Wikipedia

Draft:Kaj L. Nielsen (mathematician)

Kaj Leo Nielsen
BornDecember 3, 1914
Necker, Denmark
DiedFebruary 21, 1972
NationalityDanish-American
Occupation(s)Mathematician, Engineer, Academic
Known forContributions to the design and development of the Vought F4U Corsair and the Vought V-173/XF5U-1 Flying Pancake

Kaj Leo Nielsen (December 3, 1914 – February 21, 1972) was a Danish-American mathematician, engineer, and academic, known for his significant contributions to the design and development of two pioneering aircraft: the Vought F4U Corsair and the Vought V-173/XF5U-1 Flying Pancake (also known as the Flying Flapjack).[1]

Early Life and Education

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Kaj Leo Nielsen was born in Necker, Denmark, and immigrated to the United States in 1926, where he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He pursued higher education in the fields of mathematics and engineering. Nielsen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Michigan in 1936, his Master of Arts degree from Syracuse University in 1937, and his Doctorate from the University of Illinois in 1940. He furthered his studies as a Carnegie Post Doctorate Fellow at Brown University from 1941 to 1942.

Career

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Nielsen began his professional career as a research engineer during the summer months at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft and Woodall Industries in 1942 and 1943. In 1944, he joined Chance Vought Aircraft, where he contributed to the design and development of the F4U Corsair. Notably, he played a key role in designing the distinctive gull-wing angle of the Corsair, which allowed for better ground clearance for the aircraft's large propeller.

Nielsen also contributed to the development of the Vought V-173 (Flying Pancake), a unique experimental aircraft designed for the U.S. Navy's World War II fighter program. The V-173 featured a circular airfoil and a "nose-high" attitude, allowing it to take off and land at low speeds while still being capable of high-speed performance. Nielsen's work on this project focused on the design of the aircraft's large-diameter propellers, which rotated in opposite directions.

After his work at Chance Vought, Nielsen served as a mathematician for U.S. Navy ordinance and avionics facilities from 1945 to 1958. From 1958 to 1961, he worked as Chief Operations Analyst and Director of the Applied Science Staff at General Motors divisions. He also held a position at the Battelle Memorial Institute as Director of Systems Analysis from 1953 to 1972.

In addition to his industrial career, Nielsen held academic positions as an instructor, lecturer, and professor. He taught at several prestigious universities, including the University of Illinois (1940–1941), Brown University (1941–1942), Louisiana State University (1942–1943), Purdue University (1952–1958), and Butler University (1961-1963 and 1971–1985).

Personal Life

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In 1943, Nielsen married Carlene Z. Weikel, with whom he had two daughters, Cheryl and Janice.

Professional Recognition

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Throughout his career, Kaj L. Nielsen was listed in several directories of academic and professional achievement. He was a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, and various academic fraternities.

Death

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Kaj L. Nielsen passed away on February 21, 1972.

Legacy

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Kaj L. Nielsen is remembered for his significant contributions to both the field of mathematics and the engineering of military aircraft, particularly for his work on the F4U Corsair and the V-173 Flying Pancake, two key designs from the era of World War II.

Additionally, Nielsen's book Logarithmic and Trigonometric Tables, Five Places, with Explanation of Tables became an important resource in the fields of mathematics, physics, and engineering. The book was extensively used in an era when calculators were not yet available, and all calculations had to be performed using slide rules and logarithmic tables. It played a key role in enabling students and professionals to carry out complex calculations that would otherwise have been too time-consuming or difficult by hand. The book was translated into several languages, further amplifying its impact and making it a valuable reference work across different countries and educational systems. This legacy further solidified Nielsen's influence on the education and professional practices of his time. This legacy further solidified Nielsen's influence on the education and professional practices of his time.

Publications

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  • MR0161455 - *Methods in Numerical Analysis*

Nielsen, Kaj L. The Macmillan Company, New York; Collier Macmillan Ltd., London, 1964, xv+408 pp. Book[2]

  • MR0076428 - *Methods in Numerical Analysis*

Nielsen, Kaj L. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1956, xiii+382 pp. Book

  • MR0021718 - *An Algorithm for Least Squares*

Nielsen, K. L.; Goldstein, L.

  • MR0017019 - *On the Motion of a Spinning Shell*

Nielsen, K. L.; Synge, J. L.

  • MR0009802 - *On the Bergman Operators for Linear Partial Differential Equations*

Nielsen, Kaj L.

  • Problems in Plane Geometry, with Solutions

Horblit, Marcus and Kaj L. Nielsen New York, Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1947 QA459 .H64 [3]

  • Mathematical Theory of Airborne Fire Control

Naval Avionics Facility (U.S.) Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1951 UG630 .U645

  • College Mathematics

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1958 QA37 .N64

  • Differential Equations

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1962 QA371 .N5

  • Differential Equations

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1966 QA371 .N5 1966

  • General Boundary Value Problems for Linear Differential Equations

Nielsen, Kaj Leo Urbana, Ill., 1940 QA377 .N5

  • Keynotes: Calculus and Analytic Geometry Simplified

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1970 QA303 .N65

  • Keynotes: College Math Simplified

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1968 QA43 .N48

  • Logarithmic and Other Trigonometric Tables

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1961 QA55 .N54 1961

  • Logarithmic and Trigonometric Tables, Five Places, with Explanation of Tables

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1943

  • Mathematics for Practical Use

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1962 QA145 .N53

  • Modern Algebra

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1969 QA154 .N62

  • Modern Trigonometry

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, 1966 QA531 .N65

  • Outline of Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. Five-Place Tables

Nielsen, Kaj Leo New York, Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1944 QA531 .N66

  • Outline of Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. Five-Place Tables. By Kaj L. Nielsen and John H. Vanlonkhuyzen

New York, Barnes & Noble, 1946 QA531 .N66 1946

  • Plane & Spherical Trigonometry; A Review Outline with Five-Place Tables, Exercises, Examinations and Answers

Nielsen, Kaj Leo and John H. Vanlonkhuyzen New York, Barnes & Noble, 1954 QA531 .N66 1954

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kaj L. Nielsen Papers". Special Collection Archives. The University of Texas at Dallas, Eugene McDermott Library. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  2. ^ "Nielsen, Kaj Leo". MathSciNet - Mathematical Review. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
  3. ^ "LC Catalog - Titles List". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
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