Lippisch, Alexander

Lippisch, Alexander (Martin)

(1894–1976) aeronautical engineer; born in Munich, Germany. Developer of the first delta-wing aircraft (1931), the Messerschmitt-163A fighter plane, and the Me-163B, a rocket interceptor, he pioneered supersonic flight. Emigrating to America as a Defense Department consultant (1946), he founded Lippisch Research Corp. (1965) and developed a wingless aircraft called the aerodyne; he also assisted in the creation of award-winning documentaries on flight.