Boeing Modeler Passed Last Month At 95

It's one of the more arcane aspects of aircraft design -- and yet terribly vital. It's the design and construction of perfectly scaled, perfectly detailed wind tunnel models and for years, one of the best in the business was Othello P. Dickert. ANN has learned that Dickert passed away last month after suffering complications from circulation problems in his legs. He was 95.

Born in 1909, Dickert was sold on aviation when he was 19. That's when Charles Lindbergh made his record-breaking flight across the Atlantic. He'd already been a cabin boy and a sailor, having left home at the age of 10 to see the world. But when Dickert saw an ad for an aviation model-making contest, he jumped at the chance. Later that year, he became Boeing's first full-time maker of wind tunnel models (7E7 wind tunnel model shown below. This is one Othello didn't work on).

His work was exacting. In order for the wind tunnel tests to be valid, he had to create models accurate to within a thousandth of an inch, according to the Seattle Times. He also created wonderfully detailed display models for the aircraft manufacturer.

For 38 years, Dickert worked at Boeing, taking 12 years off to become a traveling salesman and to own his own model-making company, Hobby Specialties, Unlimited.

Aside from aviation, Dickert's passion was for mountain-climbing. In fact, a mountaineer's yodel was his signature. He was active in the Mountaineers Club for 73 years, attending his last function in 2004.

Othello Phillip Dickert has gone west, where every eye is sharp and every hand is steady. Happy trails, Mr. Dickert.

FMI: www.boeing.com