Marion O'Dell McKinney Jr. (July 24, 1921 – August 3, 1999) was a scientist at Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, who researched a wide variety of aerospace topics, including personal aircraft, [1] dynamics, [2] and aircraft configurations. [3] Like many of his contemporaries, he conducted secret war-related research during World War II, the results of which were later declassified. [4]
He was born on July 24, 1921, in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Marion O'Dell McKinney Sr. and Louise Blackwell. He graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1942 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. In 1944 he married Betty Garner. [5]
He was awarded the Wright Brothers Medal in 1964 for work on the aerodynamics of V/STOL aircraft.
He was the assistant chief of the Subsonic-Transonic Division of NASA. He retired from NASA in 1980. [5]
He died on August 3, 1999, at Hampton General Hospital in Hampton Roads, Virginia. [5]
Marion O'Dell McKinney Jr. died on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999, at Hampton General Hospital after a short illness.