Flight Research Institute F.R.I.

Early members: Burt Rutan, Arvel Gentry, Wayne German (Project Leader), ______, ______

History at their main web
Kite Motor Growing Pains
Source of clip: http://www.calmarresearch.com/software_tech/media/Star_case.pdf "Boeing’s involvement with sailing and the America’s Cup actually began back in 1981. America’s Cup skipper, Dennis Conner, asked Boeing if Arvel Gentry, an engineer in the aerodynamics department, could be made available to help support his designers to defend the ‘83 America’s Cup. Not wishing to divert Gentry from his Boeing work, the chief of aerodynamics, Mark Kirchner, formed the Flight Research Institute (FRI). The FRI allowed both Boeing and outside engineers to work on approved outside tasks on their time, and included the use of Boeing computers and proprietary advanced computer programs. Over subsequent years the FRI became associated with the Seattle Museum of Flight where studies expanded to a number of engineering-technology projects ranging from man-powered flight, Olympic bobsleds, rowing shells, and riblets on America’s Cup boats." Source: http://www.calmarresearch.com/software_tech/media/Star_case.pdf