Frederick C. Durant Explained

Other Names:F.C. Durant
Birth Name:Frederick C. Durant, III
Birth Date:31 December 1916
Birth Place:Ardmore, PA
Death Place:Mount Dora, Florida

Frederick Clark Durant III (December 31, 1916- October 21, 2015) was an American author, naval test pilot, chemical engineer, and expert in rocketry and spaceflight. Durant served as a "key advisor" to U.S. military, intelligence, and space-flight programs, playing a central role in Project Orbiter, the first US satellite program.[1]

In his later years, Durant served as assistant director of the National Air and Space Museum and an editor of Encyclopædia Britannica.[2]

Childhood and education

Durant was a descendant of Thomas C. Durant and engineer Joseph Harrison, Jr.[3] Durant's father was Frederick C. Durant Jr., an engineer educated at MIT and the Colorado School of Mines, who became president of a telephone company[3]

Fred C. Durant III graduated the Haverford preparatory school in 1934.[4] In 1939, Durant earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University.[3] [2] From 1939 to 1941, Durant was employed as a chemical engineer with the E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., at Pennsgrove, New Jersey.[3]

Aviator

In May 1941, Durant enlisted as a US naval aviation cadet.[3] Durant went on to serve as naval aviator and flight instructor.[3] In 1946, retired from the Navy at the rank of Commander in the Naval Reserves.[3] In 1951, Durant returned to service as a test pilot, ultimately flying some 30 different types of aircraft.[5]

Rocketry and spaceflight

In 1947, Durant began work as a rocket engineer with Bell Aircraft in Buffalo New York.[3] From 1948 to 1951, he served as Director of Engineering at the U.S. Naval Air Rocket Test Station at Dover, New Jersey.[3] In 1953, he became the President of the American Rocket Society[3] [2]

Durant was a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society,[3] the German Society for Aviation and Space Flight (DGLR),[3] and the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences[3] Durant was a consultant to the Department of Defense, Bell Aerosystems Co., Central Intelligence Agency, others.[3] From 1954 to 1955, Durant was part of Project Orbiter, along with von Braun.[3] [2] [1] [6]

Later life: Smithsonian director and author

In 1961, Durant moved to D.C., where he would stay until 1999.[2] In 1965, Durant became the Assistant director of National Air and Space Museum.[3] He retired from that post in 1980.[3] During his time at the Smithsonian, Durant wrote articles for Encyclopædia Britannica on rockets and spaceflight.[3] In 1983, Durant collaborated with Ron Miller and illustrator Chesley Bonestell on a book entitled Worlds Beyond.[7] The book features a foreword by Arthur C. Clarke.[8]

Personal life

Durant was a lifelong member of Society of American Magicians.[3] He married Celeste Bennett, who died from hepatitis[3] In 1947, Durant married Carolyn Jones ("Pip"). He was father to three sons and one daughter.Durant died in 2015, being preceded in death by his two of his sons: Derek and William.[3] [1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Full Page Reload. IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. October 2007.
  2. Web site: Frederick Durant III, flight authority at Smithsonian, dies at 98 - The Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com.
  3. Web site: The Space Review: Frederick C. Durant (1916-2015). www.thespacereview.com.
  4. Web site: Frederick C. Durant III '34 - The Haverford School | All Boys Pre-K-12 Private School. www.haverford.org.
  5. Web site: Frederick C. Durant | P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science. engineering.lehigh.edu.
  6. Book: Wernher Von Braun: The Man who Sold the Moon. Dennis. Piszkiewicz. Max. Manwarning. November 6, 1998. Praeger. 9780275962173. Google Books.
  7. Book: Worlds Beyond: The Art of Chesley Bonestell. Frederick C.. Durant. Ron. Miller. November 6, 1983. Donning. 9780898651959. Google Books.
  8. Web site: Nonfiction Book Review: The Art of Chesley Bonestell by Ron Miller, Author, Frederick Durant III, Author, Frederick C. Durant, Joint Author Paper Tiger (UK) $49.95 (256p) ISBN 978-1-85585-884-8.