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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 252
Location: Seattle | Not sure exactly what this was intended to do, why it was written, and who the fact checker was that day.(absent perhaps?)
http://prezi.com/1nlf27bkbecl/nasa-spinoffs/
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Transcript of NASA Spinoffs
Audio Equipment
Freeze Dried Technology NASA Spinoffs Many people are familiar with the Ovation fiberglass guitar. What they don't know is what inspired them to make this incredibly unique design. The Ovation guitar is made out of adapted NASA aerospace technology. Because of this new design, the guitar is stronger, costs less, and lasts longer than a traditional Rosewood guitar. Audio Equipment 26 year old aerospace engineer Charles H. Kaman was the mind behind the Ovation guitar. He had created a small team to assist him in this project. The team consisted of many fellow aerospace engineers, and some of them did woodworking as a hobby. Ovation Guitar The construction of the guitar dealt with basic sciences. For excellent sound quality the team used special vibration analysis equipment from aerospace technology. They spent two years on vibration technology. Then they moved forward with the design, and Kaman decided that they should use a bowl-like shape for the guitar. He believed it was the perfect shape to create an excellent, full, consistent tone for the guitar's range. Creation One of the problems with the traditional rosewood guitar is that it would crack. To prevent that on an ovation guitar Kaman used more aerospace technology. He used composite materials that were used for rotor blades on helicopters, and he made the surface of the guitar out of fiberglass. These materials make the Ovation guitar almost impossible to break. To make things even more efficient, the materials are much easier to retrieve than rosewood. Creation Traditional Rosewood Guitar Ovation Guitar Fiberglass Surface Freeze
Dried | |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4071
Location: Utah | Anything freeze dried is almost impossible to break! (perhaps I should turn off all the humidifiers in the house). | |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Turn-off the heaters too...
I think that you might get that Freeze-Dried thing tonight! 
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Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887
Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | But the surface (face)of the guitar is not fiberglass but wood? Or in the case of Adamas carbon graphite?? | |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | From what I have read, Charles was an excellent example of those that preceeded him, innovative, determined, creative, flexible as to situations, etc.
The aerospace industry was in a major retraction.
In 1969, my father once said that those above and below him were being fired. Yet, even though my dad was one of the top rocket scientists (also non-rocket as the PBY Catalina and Coronado, XF92A, Chief Flight Engineer for Hughes H-4 Hercules called the 'Spruce Goose, etc.) he was one of the chief designers of the Tomhawk Missile, Atlas Missile, etc. In fact he was responsible for every missile silo in the U.S.
I say this as my dad's response was to go from Convair to McDonnel Douglas.
Charles made Kaman Aerospace and related companies such as Kaman Music (Ovation/Takamine distribution, etc). Even losing the bid to provide a light helicopter to Bell (UH-1 Huey) didn't stop him from building LAMP helo's, helo's with lift capability for logging in Brazil, and the current unmanned helo that can bring supplies to our troops in Afghanistan.
Obviously, we on the OFC know his contribution with the Ovation and Adamas guitars.
He didn't sit still and accept the downturn, he moved forward. Obviously but needs to also be stated is that the employees deserve credit. But Charles was the influence that made it possible and built the team. | |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | rosewood back and sides? but not on an ovation | |
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Words kinda talking Ovation history (with a random rosewood reference)