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Meet Don Dotson,
Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics
My Youth
I was born in Highland Park, Michigan on May 24, 1914. When I was a youngster,
I developed a fascination with radio. It amazed me how anyone could get
sound out of the air! I built my first crystal set when I was 8 years
old. My curiosity continued to the point that I earned my Amateur Radio
License, W6FWT, while in high school. In 1933, I graduated from Belmont
High School, located in Los Angeles, CA. Just out of high school, the
intrigue of radio led me to a company called Patterson Radio. I worked
on the production line, putting components together for shipping to a
company called Gilfillan Radio Manufacturing Company, who was licensed
at that time to build radios. I was sent to Gilfillan Radio to run the
production line. I was later sent to a company called Pierson DeLane who
manufactured police radios from equipment built by Patterson and Gilfillan.
I was the Chief Tester, and ran the line for Pierson DeLane.
I always wondered what made things work, and I "tinkered" with many
different things. I enjoyed repairing and riding motorcycles, and making
things better. Creating, inventing, improving has piqued my interest and
radio has always been at the center of my interests. I tried many different
things during my early years out of high school, from radio to commercial
fishing.
My Career
In January of 1941, I joined the National Guard and was inducted into
Federal Service in March of that same year. Now a member of the United
States Army, my assignment was as a Medic. Due to a change in my Division,
I was left in limbo. I learned of an opening in Radar Maintenance and
volunteered. I was assigned to the Coast Artillery Searchlight Company
as a Radar Maintenance Specialist. I served as a Radar Tech Sergeant in
North Africa and Italy during World War II. In Italy, I was transferred
to the Air Corps to set up and operate a ground controlled bombing range
for radar equipped bombers.
I received an Honorable Discharge from the Army at Fort MacArthur, California
in 1945, and began a career as an Instrumentation Technician for AiResearch
Manufacturing Company in January, 1946. I spent approximately 20 years
working for AiResearch on three different tours. I worked in Electronics,
Flight Instruments, Ground Support and Total Energy (on-site power generation).
My first departure from AiResearch was to work for Hughes Aircraft designing
test panels for the Falcon Missile series. I returned to AiResearch to
work on flight instruments specializing in Cabin Pressure Controls. My
second departure from AiResearch was to design a machine for producing
precision cams for use in air data computers. As has been the thread of
my career, I enjoy challenges that involve new and different ideas.
I went to the University of California, Los Angeles ( UCLA) and became
involved in the designing and construction of the cooling system for the
Cyclotron they were building. UCLA was in need of this technology as they
were advancing in the field of accelerating particles for research.
In both instances, after having left AiResearch, I was enticed to return
to AiResearch by different department heads. One department head for Flight
Instruments and the other for Commercial Aircraft Ground Support. AiResearch
gas turbines were used to supply compressed air and 400 cycles-per-second
power to support the aircraft on the ground at the terminal and to start
the jet engines. They wanted my expertise, and knew I could not resist
a challenge! I returned and was responsible for the design of packaging
of the turbines and associated equipment into vehicles as specified by
the airlines. The expansion of this program put AiResearch into the field
of "Total Energy Systems." Total energy is the concept of on-site power
generation, the utilization of heat generated for processing or air conditioning.
In 1965, with some associates from AiResearch, a Total Energy Systems
Company was formed. I spent a few years designing power generation systems
for on-site companies for Total Energy Systems. This company allowed greater
latitude of equipment to be used for power generation. This company dissolved
in 1972.
I then went to work for Monogram Industries - designing toilets for
boats and/or trains! This project led to the idea of developing a sewer-less
house in areas around lakes, etc. After a couple of years at Monogram
Industries, I became owner/manager of two apartment buildings. During
this time, I worked as a consultant to Monogram Industries as well as
performing maintenance for my properties.
My Hobbies
As in my youth, I continue to "tinker" and think of new ideas to make
things better. Upon retirement, I continued to design personal projects
of interest, which eventually lead to my ultimate contact with the Wright
Flyer Project. Since 1994, I have been involved as a General Support worker,
assisting with the re-work of the present Wright Flyer Project aircraft.
As a team, we continue to strive towards our efforts to put the aircraft
in the wind tunnel to gain data on flight characteristics for use in building
a modified plane, which is capable of safe flight.
Over the years I have been interested in many things. I can remember
in 1947, I came across an article of interest regarding a control wing
aircraft. This article inspired my thinking that this would be an ideal
design for an ultra-light aircraft. Finding the crew at the Wright Flyer
Project has stimulated my interests in this field, and I enjoy the camaraderie.
I look forward to each get together, as the challenges keep me young.
In my spare time, I continue to work on special interest projects such
as a Radio Controlled (R/C) model of the control wing concept.
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