Wang Tsu ็ๅฉ, Boeing's 1st aeronautical engineer who designed Boeing's 1st successful product Boeing Model C that landed US Navy contract.
He mentored Qian Xuesen, the co-founder of JPL and the father of Chinese space program. A ๐งต
He mentored Qian Xuesen, the co-founder of JPL and the father of Chinese space program. A ๐งต
Qing Dynasty China embarked on its 1st modernization program in 1861 aft its defeat by British and French forces in the Second Opium War.
Starting frm 1872, Qing gov start sending gifted children abroad to receive Western education in order they bring back much needed knowledge
Starting frm 1872, Qing gov start sending gifted children abroad to receive Western education in order they bring back much needed knowledge
Wang Tsu was born in Beijing in 1893. When he was 7, 8 nation alliance of US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, Italy and Austro-Hungary sacked Beijing in Boxer Rebellion. He had to flee w family.
He tested into Yantai Naval Academy in 1905, age 12
He tested into Yantai Naval Academy in 1905, age 12
After graduation, 16 yr old Wang was send to UK to study naval engineering. In 1916, while WW1 raged, Wang was send to US to further his study in MIT.
Same year William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt founded an airplane company
Same year William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt founded an airplane company
George Conrad Westervelt graduated frm MIT and w Boeing co-designed the 1st Boeing plane The Boeing Model 1. They planned to sell it to US Navy but Navy turned it down because it didn't meet spec.
Westervelt soon was called up by Navy to go to East Coast.
Westervelt soon was called up by Navy to go to East Coast.
As Westervelt left the B & W company, he looked for a replacement. He went to his MIT mentor who recommended Wong Tsu.
Wong became Boeing's 1st aeronautical engineer. Wong redesigned Boeing Model 1 into Boeing Model C which won Navy contract in April 1917.
Wong became Boeing's 1st aeronautical engineer. Wong redesigned Boeing Model 1 into Boeing Model C which won Navy contract in April 1917.
Even as Wong contributed to Boeing's 1st major success, he was still discriminated against as a Chinese. Wong was not allowed into flight test field 2 witness the flight of his Model C
Aft 8 month in Boeing, Wong left to return to China to help found China's 1st airplane factory
Aft 8 month in Boeing, Wong left to return to China to help found China's 1st airplane factory
In 1919, Wong Tsu and his friend Ba Yu Zao ๅทด็่ป working at Foochow Arsenal designed China's 1st seaplane for the Chinese Navy
In 1922, Wong(L) w his friend Ba Yu Zao ๅทด็่ป (R) created World's 1st floating docks for seaplanes in Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard.
George Conrad Westervelt retired frm US Navy 2 become VP of Curtiss-Wright. China National Aviation Corporation CNAC started as JV btw Chinese gov and Curtiss-Wright. Westervelt traveled to China in 1930 and requested Wong Tsu to be chief engineer.
CNAC later became Air China
CNAC later became Air China
In 1934, a young college graduate Qian Xuesen came to intern at Hangzhou airplane factory where Wong was in charge. Tsinghua University designate Wong as Qian's mentor.
Qian then followed Wong's footsteps to study at MIT in 1935
Qian then followed Wong's footsteps to study at MIT in 1935
Qian Xuesen and his mentor Wong Tsu.
For Qian's story, I have a separate thread:
For Qian's story, I have a separate thread:
Biggest problem faced by Wong Tsu as he returned in 1917 is that Warlord Era China didn't have industrial capacity to make full use of his talent
No longer the case today. China made C919 just delivered to China Eastern Airline, a child of CNAC
No longer the case today. China made C919 just delivered to China Eastern Airline, a child of CNAC
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