Robert H. Liebeck

Robert Hauschild Liebeck (February 1, 1938 – January 12, 2026) was an American aerodynamicist, professor and aerospace engineer. Until retiring from his position as senior fellow at the Boeing Company in 2020, He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering since 1992, where he was an AIAA Honorary Fellow, the organization’s highest distinction. He is best known for his contributions to aircraft design After retirement he remained active in the aviation industry, most recently at the BWB startup JetZero where he served as a technical advisor , and continued to teach aerospace courses at University of California, Irvine.

Education Liebeck pursued studies in aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1961, a Master of Science in 1962 and a PhD in 1968. He managed several of Boeing's airplane programs through which several advanced-concept aircraft were designed. Initially funded by a grant from NASA of $90,000, the aircraft design moves away from the usual tube-and-wing design and instead has the wings blended into the body. and a two-engine version, the X-48C in 2013. alt=The NASA X48b aircraft pictured in flight over Andrews Air Force Base. The NASA X48C, the culmination of Liebeck's work on Blended Wing Body aircraft.

Other designs Liebeck's designs include propellers, wind turbines, wings for racing cars that have won the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula One World Championship, the wing for NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow," the keel for the America³ yacht which won the 1992 America's Cup, and the wing for a World Championship aerobatic airplane.

Awards and recognition Liebeck was presented with the Brigadier General Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager International Aeronautical Achievement Award in 2012. 1992 Member of the National Academy of Engineering for the development of high-lift, high-performance airfoils. ASME Spirit of St. Louis Medal ICAS Innovation in Aerodynamics Award AIAA Wright Brothers Lecture AIAA Aircraft Design Award AIAA Aerodynamics Award

Publications