AHJ_ah09616 Inventory of the F. W. Kolk papers 1937-1976 Kolk, F. W. papers Processed by John Hanks The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2006

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort July 2006 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Kolk, F. W. F. W. Kolk papers 1937-1976 09616 13 cubic ft. (27 document boxes and 1 F24 box) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The F. W. Kolk papers focus on his career with American Airlines. The papers include his daily appointments, his correspondence on aviation engineering and administrative matters, and numerous reports on specific engineering subjects. Publicity and research photographs and artifacts collected during his career are also included in the collection. Biography of F. W. Kolk

Franklin W. Kolk devoted most of his career to the advanced design of large commercial airplanes. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1941 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He was a senior aerodynamist with the Martin Company before joining American Airlines in 1943. He served as a flight test engineer, general performance engineer, airworthiness requirements specialist, and as an Assistant Vice President before he became a Vice President of Technical Development for American Airlines in 1968.

He made basic contributions to the development of a number of American Airlines airplanes including the Convair 240, the DC-6, the DC-7, the Lockheed Electra, the Boeing 707, and the Convair 990. He was also a major exponent of the turbofan powerplant for “Astrojets.” He was mainly known, however, for promoting and developing the DC-10 (Engine in the Tail) design. The DC-10 was intentionally developed as an “airbus” commuter aircraft with increased fuel efficiency and less noise.

He was a Fellow of the AIAA and the Royal Aeronautical Society, as well as Chairman of the A-21 Aircraft Exterior Noise Measurement Committee - Society of Automotive Engineers. He was awarded the De Florez Flight Safety Award in 1967.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York (circa 1918) and lived with his wife and three daughters on Long Island at Sea Cliff, New York. He died in 1976 at the age of 57.

 Scope and Content

The F. W. Kolk papers, 1937-1976, focus on his career working in commercial aviation for American Airlines in various capacities as an engineer and engineering administrator from 1943 until 1976. He was instrumental in the design of various turbo-prop and jet aircraft including the Dash-80 (DC-707) and the DC-10. The papers include his daily appointments, his correspondence on aviation engineering and administrative matters, and numerous reports on specific engineering subjects. Publicity and research photographs and artifacts collected during his career are also included.

The daily chronological and topical engineering reports detail many of the problems involved in developing various important commercial aircraft for production. The collection also details public relations and lobbying efforts connected with the projects.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

DC-10 material is not to be used for litigation. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

 Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by F. W. Kolk at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

Mrs. Kolk (Elizabeth S.) gave her husband Franklin W. Kolk’s papers to the American Heritage Center in three shipments. Nine record boxes arrived in July 1987, and two more small shipments arrived in October and November 1988. The papers were in good condition.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by John Hanks in February 2000. Original folder titles have been maintained.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, F. W. Kolk papers, 1937-1976, Collection Number 09616, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms American Airlines, inc. Aerospace engineering. Aircraft industry--History. Aeronautics, Commercial--Development. Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce. Science. Photographs. Artifacts. Aerospace engineers. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Container List Series I. Appointment Books, 1965-1976 (2 document boxes)

Arranged chronologically focusing on engineering and business appointments.

 1 1-2 British Aircraft Corporation, 1965-1966 1 3 American Airlines, 1967 1 4 British Aircraft Corporation, 1967 1 5 Bristol Siddeley, 1968 1 6-7 British Aircraft Corporation, 1969-1970 2 1-6 British Aircraft Corporation, 1971-1976 Series II. Correspondence, 1964-1976 (6 document boxes)

Arranged chronologically focusing on a broad range of airline matters from engineering to business and politics.

 3 1-5 1964-1967 4 1-3 1968 4 4 Congratulation Letters on Promotion to Vice President, Development Engineering, 1968 4 5 1969 5 1-4 1969-June 1970 6 1-6 July 1970-December 1971 7 1-4 January-December 1972 7 5 Personal, 1972 7 6 1973 8 1-2 1973 8 3 Incoming Mail Log, 1974 8 4-5 1974 8 6 Personal, 1974 8 7-8 Incoming Mail Log, 1975 9 1 1975 9 2 Personal, 1975 9 3 Robert Johnson’s Memories of Early Curtiss Aviation, May 1975 9 4 1976 9 5 Personal, 1976 Series III. Photographs and Slides, 1953-1972 (2 document boxes)

Negatives, prints, and slides arranged chronologically focusing on airline commemorations, professional social events, research, and publicity.

 Subseries 1. Negatives, 1972, undated 9 6 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Publicity), 1972

Boeing 707 - Last Trip to Air Museum

 9 7 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet), undated

Aircraft Research and Development

 Subseries 2. Prints, 1953-1972 9 8 Kolk, F.W. (Professional), 1953-1972

Dinners, Dedications, Promotions, Tests

 9 9 Beard, Dan (Professional), 1957

30th Anniversary Dinner

 9 10 Aircraft (Military-Propeller), 1962

French Atlantic Patrol A/C by Breuget Co.

 9 11 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet Publicity), 1970

DC-10 First Flight (Album)

 9 12 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Publicity), 1970

DC-10 First Flight

 9 13 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Publicity), 1970

Lockheed TriStar

 F-24 1 5 15”x20” prints: 1 Astrojet, 3 DC-10’s, 1 meeting, circa 1970 9 14 Aircraft (Humorous-Publicity), 1971-1972

Kolk’s “Red Baron,” L-1011

 9 15 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Publicity), 1972

Aerospatial Concorde-Mach 2

 9 16 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Publicity), 1972

Boeing 707 - Last Trip to Air Museum

 9 17 Aircraft (Commercial Jet, Publicity), 1972

DC-10 Twin Symposium (Album)

 9 18 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Publicity) – TS-80 Retirement, 1972 9 19 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Aircraft Research and Development), undated 10 1 Aircraft (Commercial-Jet, Publicity), undated

DC-10, Boeing 727, American Airlines Co.

 10 2 Aircraft (Commercial-Propeller), undated

American Airlines DC-3, DC-6, Etc.

 Subseries 3. Slides, 1953-1971 10 3 Wings and Jet Engines, 1953 10 4 For SAE Lecture by Kolk (Brown Box), 1957 10 5 Beard, FSF Speeds, 1959 10 6 Training - Ways of Improving Take-Off and Landing, 1959 10 7 For Zurich Paper, August 1961 10 8 Training - American Airlines Flight Training, 1971 10 9 Air Express, DC-10 Meeting, undated 10 10 Airbus DC-10, McDonnell Douglas Slides (Red/Blue Box), undated 10 11-13 Lantern Slides of Aviation Subjects (3 – Small Kodak Boxes), undated Series IV. Subject Files, 1937-1976 (14 document boxes)

Arranged chronologically focusing on aircraft engineering, and professional activities.

 11 1 Airplane Design Probs. by Frank W. Kolk at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, circa 1937 11 2 Notes: M.I.T. Wind Tunnel 16’61 Elem. Aerodyn. 16 ‘72, 1937 11 3 Notebook: Airplane Design, Performance Propellers, 1940 11 4 Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Co. materials: KT-2R Airplane Notes, 4 Engine Cargo Plane Plans, Martin Star Company Magazine, and Photo of 4 Engine Flying Boat, 1942-1943 11 5 Expenses of the DC-4 and DC-6 Airplanes, 1946

(American Airlines Engineering Report)

 11 6 Development Possibilities of the DC-7, 1954

(Research and Development #2)

 11 7 Preliminary Investigation of the Effects on Economy of Engine Selection and Passenger Capacity, 1954

(Research and Development #3)

 11 8 Vickers Viscount Preliminary Economic and Marketing Information, 1954

(Research and Development #1)

 11 9 Weight Analysis, 1954 11 10 C-130 (Electra), 1955 11 11 Body Length Study 707-123 Stratoliner, 1956

(Research and Development #4)

 11 12 Convair Skylark with J-79 Engine, 1956 11 13 Direct Operating Costs Electra Aircraft, 1956

(Research and Development #5)

 11 14 F.W.K. Spring Meeting Speech Materials, 1957 11 15 Boeing 707 Operation, 1957

(Pencil notes included.)

 11 16 Cargo System Study, 1957 12 1 Boeing 707-023 Performance for 650, circa 1957

(Pencil notes included.)

 12 2 Brief Analytical Comparison of the Convair 880 and Boeing 717, 1957

(Research and Development #7)

 12 3 Evaluation of Convair 880, 1957

(Research and Development #6)

 12 4 Increased Cruise Thrust Study – 707-123, 1958 12 5 SFO-12L Non-Stop Case, 1958 12 6 Study of DC-7 Turboprop Cargo Conversion, 1958

(Equipment Research #12)

 12 7 Boeing Damage Studies, 1959 12 8 Boundary Layer Control System, 1959

(Pencil notes included.)

 12 9 Drag Analysis – 707/DC-8, 1959 12 10 Fan Engine, 1959 12 11 Lockheed Electra Replacement, circa 1959 12 12 Safe Climb Speed, 1959 12 13 Take-Off – B-707, 1959 12 14 Turbo-Prop Analysis, 1959 12 15 Boeing 707-023B Noise at LaGuardia, 1959-1960 12 16 Jet Flap Data, circa 1960 12 17 Jet Landing Distance Calculations, 1960 12 18 Jet Noise, circa 1960 12 19 Light Twin Report II, circa 1960 12 20 Noise Consultants, 1960 12 21 Pratt and Whitney Fan Fix, 1960 12 22 Route Analysis – DC-7D, circa 1960 12 23 Rudder Control B-707, circa 1960 13 1 SAE Paper on Supersonic Transport, circa 1960 13 2 Second International Congress of the Aeronautical Sciences, September 1960 13 3 Turbo-Prop Studies, circa 1960 13 4 Aircraft Noise Presentation at Queensboro Hall, October 1961 13 5 Convair 990 Efficiency Items, 1961 13 6 Development Notes for Boeing 727, 1960-1961 13 7 Fan Noise Data, 1961 13 8 Flight Simulator/Nav. Trainer, 1961 13 9 Ground Effect Machines, circa 1961

(Pencil notes included.)

 13 10 Objective Landing Field Length Requirements, circa 1961

(Engineering Research and Development Report #16, American Airlines)

 13 11 Preliminary Flight Simulator Specification, 1961 13 12 S.A.E. Paper (Society of Automotive Engineers), 1960-1961 13 13 Flight Recorder Readout Information, 1962 14 1 SRT Engine Studies, 1962 14 2 Light Twin Noise, 1963 14 3 Light Twin Report–II, Inside Ref., 1962-1963 14 4 Notes—Technical/Business, 1963 14 5-6 Pratt and Whitney Material - February 18, 1963, 1962-1963 14 7 SAE Propulsion Reliability Study Committee, 1963 14 8 Deep Stall / T-Tail, 1964 14 9 F.W.K. Personal – Aviation, Notes, Correspondence, 1964 14 10 Determination of Airfreighter Capacity, 1965

(Developmental Engineering #33)

 15 1 EWR Jet Operations, 1962-1965 15 2 F.W.K. Personal – Aviation, Notes, Correspondence, 1965 15 3 Investigation of Potential Limitations of Airplane Utilization…, 1965

(Developmental Engineering #32)

 15 4 JFK Jet Operations, 1957-1965 15 5-7 White House Sound Panel Reports, 1965 15 8 F.W.K. Personal – Aviation, Notes, Correspondence, Fortune Article, 1966 15 9 “How Douglas Got into Trouble,” Fortune, December 1966 15 10 LaGuardia (LGA) Jet Operations, 1962-1966 15 11 Notes – Business/Technical, 1965-1966 15 12 Summary Report –727 Noise, including 727-223 LaGuardia Community Noise Study, 1966

(Engineering Research and Development Report #40, American Airlines)

 15 13 American Airlines, Administrative Association Meeting, Current Status of Twin-Engine Air-Bus, July 1967 15 14 Analysis of the Flight Recorder Readout from BAC 1-11, Flight 2601 Approach Incident at Washington National Airport on August 19, 1967, 1967

(Development Engineering Report No. 46)

 15 15 Boeing 727-223 Operation, ER&D Report 45…Noise Abatement Take Off at La Guardia Runway 22, 1967 15 16 CL-1011 Items, 1966-1967 15 17 Development of a Noise Abatement Takeoff Procedure on LGA Runway 22 for both the BAC 1-11 and the Boeing 727, 1967

(Engineering Research and Development Report #45)

 15 18 Feasibility of Air Turbine Powered Wheels for Docking and Un-Docking Large Aircraft, 1967

(Engineering Research and Development Report #43, American Airlines

 15 19 F. W. Kolk Appointment Calendar, 1967 15 20 Jumbo 3 Engined Passenger Transport (General Requirements), 1967 15 21 La Guardia Size Analysis, 1967 15 22 Policy Material – 747, 1967 15 23 Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, Annual Assembly Meeting, Reducing the Noise Problem, September 1967 16 1 727-223 Washington National Airport Georgetown Noise Study Summary Report, 1967

(Engineering Research and Development Report #44)

 16 2-3 Tri-Jet Data, 1967 16 4 20th Annual International Air Safety Seminar – Admiral Luis De Florez Flight Safety Award – Williamsburg, Va., December 1967 16 5 Boeing 727-223 Operation, American Airlines Internal Correspondence, 1968 16 6 Boeing 727-223 Operation, (Notes), 1968 16 7 Boeing 727-223 Operation, Peconic Tests—BB&N Correspondence, 1968 16 8 Boeing 727-223 Operation, Port Authority Correspondence, Etc., 1966-1968 16 9 “Epic Battle of the Plane Makers,” Fortune, June 1, 1968 16 10 Lockheed L-1011 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Proposals Operations Department Technical Evaluation, 1968 16 11 Tri-Jet Data (F. W. Kolk) Vol. I, 1968

(1 of 2)

 17 1 Tri-Jet Data (F. W. Kolk) Vol. I, 1968

(2 of 2)

 17 2 Tri-Jet Data (F. W. Kolk) Vol. II, 1968 17 3 Tri-Jet Engine/Airplane Technical Evaluation, 1968

(Summary)

 17 4 Tri-Jet Engine Evaluation, General Electric CF6, Rolls Royce RB.211 (Operations Department), 1968 17 5 Boeing 747 / DC-10, 1968-1969 17 6 General Requirements for Large Cargo Airplane, 1969

(R&D Report #61)

 17 7 Inter-Metropolitan STOL Evaluation and Evaluation, Plan, And Project Summary -American Airlines and McDonnell Douglas, March 10, 1969 17 8 Long Range Aircraft Evaluation, 1969

(Report #49 by Development Engineering)

 17 9 Requirements / Documents, 1969 17 10 Large Twin Engine Passenger Transport – General Requirements, 1969-1970 18 1 Large Twin-Engined Passenger Transport – General Requirements, 1969-1970

(Development Engineering Doc. 69-1)

 18 2 Floating Interim Manhattan STOLPORT (Report), and Astronautics and Aeronautics, “Toward City-Center Air Service,” September, December 1970 18 3 F.W.K. Personal – Aviation, Notes, Correspondence, 1970 18 4 General Requirements for Large Twin-Engined Passenger Transport, 1970

(Research and Development Report #59)

 18 5 Large Cargo Airplane – General Requirements, 1970 18 6 A Payload Analysis Program Using a “Monte Carlo” Technique, 1970

(Engineering Research and Development Report #51)

 18 7 Aviation and the Environment in the Nineteen Seventies by Peter Masefield sponsored by The National Aviation Club of Washington, D.C., The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. and The Society of Automotive Engineers – The First William Littlewood Memorial Lecture, 1971 18 8 C. R. Smith - Lecture Notes, Paper, Book, and Photographs (?), 1971 18 9-10 Data for C. R. Smith Sight Lecture, 1971 19 1 DC-10 Commercial Introduction Publicity, 1971 19 2 DC-10 Material, Royal Aeronautical Society Papers, 1971 19 3 DC-10 Publicity, Royal Aeronautical Society – New Zealand, 1971 19 4 Fuel and Fuel Tank Venting, 1970-1971 19 5 F.W.K. Personal – Aviation, Notes, Correspondence, 1971 19 6 Mach 0.85 and 0.82, 1971 19 7 M. I. T. Seminar Invitation, The SST – A Case Study in Public Decision Making, 1971 19 8 Operations Order #80, Special Demonstration Flight – LGB - B727-100…(Leviss Visit), 1970-1971 19 9 Pacific Trip by F. W. Kolk Hosted by Royal Aeronautical Society, November 1971 19 10 Airline View of STOL System Requirements, American Airlines for Dept. of Transportation, February 1972 19 11 DC-10 Clippings and Rollout Booklet – Design, Introduction, and One Year Review, 1968-1972 19 12 Noise Exposure Forecasts (N.E.F.), 1972 19 13 Notes – Technical/Business, 1972 20 1 Quiet Aircraft Symposium, England, June-July 1972 20 2 Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL), 1972 20 3 Washington, D.C. Noise Survey, 1972

(Engineering Research And Development Report #58)

 20 4 Civil Aircraft Fleet Noise (FNL) Data, 1973 20 5 Demand Curves – 73, 1973 20 6 A Method for Assessing the Relative Effectiveness of Various Noise Abatement Strategies, 1973

(Preliminary Draft)

 20 7 Notes – Technical/Business, 1973 20 8 Profit Loops (FILDEM), 1973 20 9 STDEV Data Runs (TURNAWAY), 1973 20 10 Analysis of TANNER-NAFEC Data, 1974 20 11 Clippings, 1960-1974 20 12 Fuel Consumption – DATA and CALCS, 1974 21 1 International Airline Advanced Aircraft Committee Meeting, 1974 21 2 Performance of 727, June 1974 21 3 Q Analysis - 320, 1974 21 4 Q Analysis — 707-123B, 1974 21 5 Q Analysis - 727, 1974 21 6 Q Analysis - 747, 1974 21 7 Q - En Route, 1974 21 8 Superfan DC-9, 1974 21 9 Transcam 727, 1974 21 10 Computer Program for Calculating Specific Annoyance Factor (SAF) for the Boeing 727-100/JT8D-1, 1975

(Tech. Dev. Report #64)

 21 11 International Airline Advanced Aircraft Committee, 1973-1975 21 12 Jumbo Twin, 1966-1975 21 13 Q Analysis—DC-10, 1975 21 14 The Technology and Economics of Air Transport in Its Next Phase by K. G. Wilkinson, Vice Chairman of Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited for the Royal Aeronautical Society, 1975 21 15 Acoustical Society of America, 1976 21 16 Air Pollution, 1976 22 1 Air Transport Association, 1976 22 2 Aircraft, 1976 22 3 Airports, 1976 22 4 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics including Fellow Nominations and Member Committee Meeting Minutes, 1973-1976 22 5-6 Budget, 1976 22 7 Budget (901/602), 1976 23 1 Budget – Monthly Accounts, 1976 23 2 Business Operations, 1976 23 3 Engines – General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, Etc., 1976 23 4-5 International Airline Advanced Aircraft Committee Meeting, 1976 23 6 International Air Transport Association, 1976 23 7 International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences – 10th Congress, 1976 23 8 Legal (Legislative), 1976 24 1 Meetings – General, 1976 24 2 Miscellaneous Memoranda, Publications, Reports, 1976 24 3-4 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, 1976 24 5 Research and Technology Advisory Council, NASA, Safety and Operating Systems, March 2-3, 1976 24 6-7 Research and Technology Advisory Council, NASA – Panel Meeting (Diverse Presentations), May 11-13, 1976 25 1 Research and Technology Advisory Council, NASA, July 15-16, 1976

(Advanced Composite Materials)

 25 2-3 Research and Technology Advisory Council, NASA, 1976

(General)

 25 4-5 Speeches, 1946-1976 25 6 Terminal Configured Vehicles Sub Committee, NASA, 1976 25 7 United States Department of Transportation, 1976 25 8 Notes, undated Series V. Artifacts, circa 1950-1976 (1 document box and 1 F24 box)

Arranged alphabetically including souvenirs, airline maps, awards.

 F-24 2 “A New ‘Star’ Is Born – The L1011,” circa 1968

(Matted photo of Kolk and R. L. Thoren with initial concept for airplane.)

 26 Apron (Backyard Grill), Features Airline Logos, undated 26 Cartoons on Arresting Gear, Noise, undated

(Document Folder 3)

 26 Coaster, American Airlines to Australia and New Zealand, undated F-24 3 “Frank Kolk Makes his First CJ-805-23 Flight!,” undated

(Cartoon about jet engine test flight by Ted Grossman.)

 26 Maps, American Airlines Routes, circa 1950s-circa 1970s

(Document Folder 3)

 26 Medallion, One Thousandth 727, Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, January 1974 26 Mug, Pewter with Lockheed Electra on the bottom, undated 26 Newsletter (Humorous), Braheian Debater, Defenders of the Geocentric Universe, Spring 1976

(Document Folder 1)

 26 Paperweight, Commemorating 20 Years of Helicopter Use N. Y. Police Dept. (Bell Helicopter), 1969 26 Paperweight, Philatelic Aviation History of Rolls-Royce, 1918-1974, 1974 26 Postcards (Color), DC-6, DC-7, Stratocruiser, circa 1950s

(Document Folder 3)

 26 Reproductions (Color), Wright Bros. and Alexander G. Bell Stock and Patent Memorabilia, undated

(Document Folder 2)

 26 Slide Rule, Allied Research, undated 26 Slide Rule, Rolls Royce Souvenir, undated 26 Slide Rule (Circular), GE4/SST Flight Propulsion Division Souvenir, undated

(Document Folder 3)

 26 Tea Towel (Humorous) Jet Transport Crying Towel, undated 26 Wall Plaque, American Airlines Logo, undated 26 Wall Plaque, Douglas DC-10, This Is to Certify that Frank Kolk Flew as an Observer on DC-10 No. 1, January 20, 1971 F-24 4 5 Aircraft Parking Project diagrams, 1969 Series VI. Books, 1942-1976 (1 document box)

Arranged alphabetically by author including annotated aircraft histories, engineering, and a reference book. Kolk is mentioned in Destination Disaster.

 27 Andrews, Philip, Air News Yearbook, Duell, Sloan & Pierce, 1942

(Inscribed Franklin W. Kolk)

 27 Bach, Richard, Nothing by Chance, 1969

(Annotated)

 27 Eddy, Paul, Elaine Potter, Bruce Page, Destination Disaster, 1976

(Kolk on pp. 98-100)

 27 Hodge, James, Gas Turbine Series Vol. 1, Cycles and Performance Estimation, 1955

(Mathematical notes inside.)

 27 Ziegler, Mano, Rocket Fighter, 1961

(Annotated by Author - “To Frank Zorn as a Remembrance of Your Visit to Munich;” correspondence inside.)