Thomas Midgley, Jr.

Knock was a destructive phenomenon that occurred in internal combustion engines and only became worse at high engine-compression ratios. Because higher compression ratios were necessary to improve engine power and fuel efficiency, and as and as a post-World War I fuel shortage was expected, this problem was top priority. Midgley soon uncovered that contrary to popular belief, knock was the result of a fuel failure, not an engine failure. A trial and error search commenced to find a fuel additive that would reduce the temperature and pressure within the cylinder to suppress the knock. In December 1921, an engine test was run with a small amount of tetraethyl lead, completely eliminating knock. This discovery enabled airplane makers to develop more powerful engines to utilize tetraethyl lead aviation fuel, which gave the U.S. a decisive advantage during the Second World War. The increased engine horsepower also allowed for greater aircraft safety, reliability and speed.

Far Electrograph Ultraviolet Camera
Satellite Servicing Techniques
Hydroaeroplane
Space Capsule Design
Retractable Landing Gear; Folding Wing
Rotor Control Mechanism for Rotary Aircraft
Altimeter
Link Trainer/Simulator
Ethyl Gasoline
Flying Wing plane; All-Metal High-Wing Monocoque Airplane (Vega)
Communications Satellite
Spin Stabilized Synchronous Communications Satellite
Turbo Jet
Jet Engine
Supercritical Wing
Small Fan-Jet Engine
Aircraft Propulsion System - Jet Engine