Fowler, Harlan D., 1895-1982

Born June 18, 1895, Harlan Davey Fowler grew up in Sacramento, California. Fowler married twice and had two children. He spent his professional life as an aeronautical engineer and inventor. The year 1917 marked the beginning of Fowler's life-long career as an aeronautical engineer and inventor. His greatest professional achievement was the development of the variable area wing, commonly known as the Fowler flap. The Fowler flap is a high-lift device located on the trailing edge of an airplane wing that increases wing area and lift. In 1949 the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania awarded Fowler with the John Price Wetherill Medal for the development of the "Variable Lift Airplane Wing." He died on April 27, 1982.

From the description of Harlan D. Fowler papers, 1920-1980. (San Jose Public Library). WorldCat record id: 63136072

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