Ellis David R.

Ellis, David R., 75, retired aeronautical engineer and beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away October 26, 2010. David was born in Rapid City, S.D., into a family of aviation pioneers. Learning to fly was part of Davids early life, soloing and acquiring private and commercial licenses as soon as he was old enough to legally do so. He graduated with highest honors from the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, and received his M.S.E in Aeronautical Engineering from Princeton University. In addition to being a flight instructor, flight test engineer, and U.S. Forest Service aerial-survey pilot, he worked as an aerodynamicist at NACA and NASA, was Assoc. Prof. of Aerospace Engineering at KU, an Adjunct Assoc. Prof. of Aerospace Engineering at WSU, and Mgr. of Flight Dynamics Research at Princeton Univ., where he led the development and use of variable stability in-flight simulators for flying qualities research. Industry positions have included V.P. of Engineering at Commander Aircraft, and Manager of Adv. Design and Systems Research at Cessna, where he led design and development of the Model T303 Crusader and Model 208 Caravan and directed major research programs in laminar flow wing technology, electro-impulse de-icing systems, and advanced general aviation engines. As Director of RD at WSUs National Institute for Aviation Research, David oversaw some fourteen research labs, including facilities for aerodynamics, structures, materials, crashworthiness, flight simulation, propulsion, airframe icing, and cryogenics research. He consulted extensively throughout his career, authored numerous publications, and received a number of honors, awards, and fellowships, including Assoc. Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and past chairman of the AIAA Gen. Aviation Systems Technical Committee. In 2003, after retiring from his more than 40-year career in aviation, David followed in the footsteps of his father and two uncles by being inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame. In addition to his professional accomplishments, David was well known among family and friends as an exceptional cook, an avid reader and art collector, a formidable opponent on the tennis court, and a devoted cat owner. David is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Eunice; son David Jr. (Michelle); daughter Katie (Karl); grandchildren Channing, Madeleine, Jordyn, and Kristian; brother Richard Ellis; sister Jean Gorsuch; nieces and nephews. At Davids request there will be a private family memorial. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS, 67202, (www.hynesmemorial.org) or The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., S-100, Arlington, VA, 22203, (www.nature.org). Downing Lahey Mortuary East. At Davids request there will be a private family memorial.