RIP Denys Overholser 1941 - 2026

[fightingirish]

Denys Overholser, an American electrical engineer and stealth technology specialist known for his work on radar cross-section (RCS) prediction and low-observable aircraft design at Lockheed's Skunk Works, passed away this week.
He is referenced in several discussions on this forum.
Source:
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-u...erholser-Honoring-the-Skunk-Works-Legend.html

 

[fightingirish]

Hey everyone, check out this ten-year-old article about Denys Overholser.
Instead of the Lockheed Martin obituary, this article has a bigger picture showing him in front of the test pit where they checked aircraft models for their radar cross section (RCS).
https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2016/04/16/secret-weapon-stealth-tech-dallas/82678480/

 

[Archibald]

He was the one that made stealth happen, noting that paper by a Soviet scientist that had been ignored - Oufimtsev.

 

[timmyjohn]

Denys Overholser, an American electrical engineer and stealth technology specialist known for his work on radar cross-section (RCS) prediction and low-observable aircraft design at Lockheed's Skunk Works, passed away this week.
He is referenced in several discussions on this forum.
Source:
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-u...erholser-Honoring-the-Skunk-Works-Legend.html

Denys was smart to leave the Skunk Works in 1980 and start up DENMAR, recognizing the upcoming boom in classified stealth-related RDT&E. Little known bit of trivia: the company name is an abbreviation of DENys and MARlyce, his first wife.
RIP.
https://www.denmartech.com/

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Yep, very important engineer in the history of stealth.

 

[Foo Fighter]

RIP, Sir.

Progress, it begets progress. I wish him well with his modern abacus and stylus in the great design shed. Perhaps even a 'stealthy' shed.

No shortage of problems to solve and none of the 'the contractor wants' nonsense.

 

[FighterJock]

Sad news indeed, if it was not for Overholser and his small team of engineers in the Skunk Works back in the early 1970s working on the Echo 1 computer program then we would never would have had the Have Blue and Senior Trend program that eventually brought us the F-117A.

 

[Scott Kenny]

In all seriousness, does anyone happen to know what Mister Overholser typically drank? I would like to offer a libation.

 

[Foo Fighter]

I recall his 'poisons' being whisky and cigars. It bugs me I cannot remember WHERE.....

I shall have a dram anyway and say I tried.

 

[Aeroweanie]

Denys (L) and me (R) at the first flight of RAT55