Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
| Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1927 |
| Type | Private |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic - Jesuit |
| Dean | K. Ravindra, Ph.D. |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | http://parks.slu.edu |
Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology is a college within Saint Louis University.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
Parks Air College was founded by Oliver Parks in 1927. Parks was American's first federally certified school of aviation, holding the FAA Air Agency Certificate no. 1.
Parks College was initially a publicly traded company. Durring the great depression, the Detroit Aircraft Corporation bought up eighty percent of the stock as part of a large merger of aviation entities. Oliver Parks sold most of his assets to buy back a controlling interest.[1][2] The college students manufactured their own series of biplane aircraft, including the Parks P2A, which became the "hero" of books by author Richard Bach.[3][4] The college quickly got out of the manufacturing business, selling the P2A rights to Ryan as the Ryan Speedster, and later the Hammond 100.
In the 1930s those enrolled as aeronautical engineers, had to design, construct and test fly their own aircraft. By 1936 the enrollment reached 200 students, with a training fleet that consisted of 13 aircraft including the Kinner Sportster, and Lambert Monocoach twin.[5]
[edit] Wartime Training
In 1938 Oliver Parks, (representing Parks Air College,) Curtis-Wright Technical Institute, and Boeing School of Aeronautics were requested by Gen Arnold to establish, at their own risk, a Civilian Pilot Training Program including barracks and aircraft to provide basic training for thousands of pilots.[6] As enrollment swelled, Parks further expanded his facilities to include operations at Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, Missouri, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi. Parks College trained thousands of aviators and aircraft mechanics during World War II. By the end of the war, more than 37,000 cadets (more than 10% of the Air Corps) had received their primary flight instruction at a Parks institution. A variety of training aircraft were used including PT-13, PT-17, PT-19, and the locally built PT-15 trainers.[7] [8] External link to Civilian Pilot Training Program
In 1944 Parks started a training curriculum to train female pilots. The students flew in ERCO Ercoupes with two-control flight systems.[9]
[edit] Merger with St. Louis University
Having concluded that future aviation leaders would need a broader, more academic education, Parks donated the college to Saint Louis University in 1946, remembering the Jesuit help he received after a 1928 air crash.[10]
Parks College operated Parks College Airline, a student run airline flying Cessna T-50 Bamboo Bombers.[11]
Wernher von Braun donated a V-2 rocket engine from the White Sands Missile Range to the college after a visit in the 1950s.
[edit] Campus Consolidation
In 1996 Saint Louis University closed the historic Cahokia, Illinois campus and later sold it to the village.[12] Classes are now held in the new McDonnell-Douglas Hall building on the Frost Campus in mid-town St Louis. Flight training remained at St. Louis Downtown Airport. The move to the Frost campus allowed the curriculum to be expanded and Masters programs to be added. The college also provides the science classes for the main campus.
Now known as Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology, it is a modern, growing, active part of the university.
[edit] Departments
- Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
- Aviation Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Interdisciplinary Engineering
[edit] Undergraduate programs
Bachelor of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (dual degree)
- Aviation Management
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering—Bioelectronics (engineering or pre-med emphasis)
- Engineering Physics
- Flight Science/Professional Piloting
- Interdisciplinary Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Physics
[edit] Graduate programs
- Master of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biomedical Engineering
[edit] Alumni
- Francis Gabreski - WWII Ace that received primary training at Parks.
- Harrison Thyng - Multiple WWII and Korean War Ace.[13]
- Gene Kranz - NASA Mission Commander.[14]
- Gerald P. Carr - NASA Skylab 4 Commander.[15]
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WWII Ace Francis Gabreski
-
General Harrison Thyng
-
Gene Kranz
-
Gerald P. Carr
[edit] References
- ^ Popular Mechanics. Jan 1931.
- ^ Barnes Warnock McCormick, Conrad F. Newberry, Eric Jumper, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Aerospace engineering education during the first century of flight. p. 822.
- ^ "A life in the clouds". http://www.netlabs.net/hp/richieb/clouds.html. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ Tom LeCompte (1 July 2006). "At the Movies: Take Two". Air & Space Magazine.
- ^ Popular Mechanics: 35A. January 1937.
- ^ The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume Six Men and Planes.
- ^ "The Aviation Enterprises of Oliver Parks,". Gateway News. November 1990.
- ^ "Accident Report Parks Air College". http://www.accident-report.com/world/namerica/slist/parksaircollege.html. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ Aviation news, Volume 2. 1944.
- ^ Barnes Warnock McCormick, Conrad F. Newberry, Eric Jumper, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Aerospace engineering education during the first century of flight.
- ^ Tim Brady. The American aviation experience: a history.
- ^ Sport Avaition: 14. October 1996.
- ^ William E. Oliver. The inner seven the history of seven unique American combat aces of World.
- ^ Gene Kranz. Failure Is Not an Option Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond.
- ^ Lee Ellis. Who's who of NASA astronauts.
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