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G.M. Hattrup | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> John W. Kiker

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John W. Kiker

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John William Kiker
August 4, 1925-May 6, 2005

John W. Kiker passed away on May 6 2005.
He became a good friend to Sue and myself.
We will miss him dearly.

God Speed

These photos are from one of my visits with Mr. John Kiker.
John is the grandfather of my son Jeff's wife, Marianne.
John worked for NASA for over 30 years.
Working for NASA, John was Chief, Mechanisms Branch, Spacecraft Design Division.
One of John most notable achievements while at JSC was the concept and
theory development of the aerodynamics, systems, support and substructures
to aircraft and orbiter necessary to fly the shuttle on top of the 747.
This idea, his entirely, saved the manned space program over $40,000,000
and endless delay over the methods under consideration at the time.
His accomplishments are many.
Please check out ...
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/KikerJW/JWK_BIO.pdf

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

-- RCAF Flight-Lieutenant John Gillespie Magee Jr.
(1922-1941).

:: Mission Accomplished! ::	Owen Morris. and John Kiker	John and his model	John and his grandkids Marianne and Stephen	Table full of goodies I get to look at
Table full of goodies I get to look at	Sections of heat shield, Mercury and Gemini	Actual tile piece from orbiter.	Section of parachute from Apollo 13	Shuttle landing with one of John's drag chutes
Radio controlled test flight	Model used to test separation from main tank	Model used to test separation from main tank	Model used to test separation from main tank	Test flight model
Presidential Management Improvement Award	John's wings were flown on STS-47	ALT award	Artist conception drawing of 747 carrier plane	John's Model
Some of my collection	John signed for me	John's model on loan to National Model Aviation Museum in Indiana	John's model on loan to National Model Aviation Museum in Indiana	John's model on loan to National Model Aviation Museum in Indiana
John's model on loan to National Model Aviation Museum in Indiana

comment |

Ray Swindle		14-May-2014 23:27
Howdy! One evening while manning the 147th TxANG aircraft alert force at Ellington Field, I saw a convoy headed for the old Lunar Landing Training Vehicle site. I watched John Kiker launch the 747 model and fly it, then later they returned and I saw them fly the 747 with the Orbiter model. I was also a member of the old MSCRCC (Manned Spacecraft Center Radio Controlled Club). At a member meeting John Kiker presented his work with the models and the engineering results from the flights. I was impressed with what these engineers had accomplished! Currently, Space Center Houston is assembling the KSC Shuttle trainer, now named Independence, atop the original SCA for a display. I sent them a note on their FB page recommending they name the display after John Kiker. I hope they do!

Don Coles		12-Dec-2013 19:23
I was either the 2nd or 3rd co-op engineer John had in Houston. I worked for him, when not in school, from July 1962 thru August 1964. His recommendation propelled me into every engineering job I ever had after graduation. He taught by showing not by telling. Any supervisor I had after him fell short because of his stature. He gave you appreciation in front of his supervisors and, when you needed it, corrected you in private – just the two of you. He gave more second chances to employees & colleagues, who never needed a third chance. He was at home with us co-ops and with the Gilruths and Fagets of the Center. I dearly miss his counsel.

Austin Kiker		11-Aug-2013 19:51
Hello all, I am the son of Paul J. Kiker III, John Kikers nephew. I visited the air and space museum right outside of D.C. today. They have the Discovery space shuttle on display here, near that display they have a picture memorial of the shuttle flying "piggy-back" on a 747. It caused me to well up with pride knowing I am related to the man who invented that idea. Although I quietly read facts about space travel, on the inside I wanted to burst and tell everyone in the museum who came up with such a wild notion.

David Gentry		18-Dec-2011 21:22
I was fortunate to have worked under John Kiker's leadership at NASA. I started at MSC (renamed JSC) as a co-op student in January of 1964 and worked in his branch off and on until I graduated and rejoined as a full time engineer in 1969. I was only there for two more years before moving on. However, I did get to know him as a remarkable man, engineer, and leader. I watched him fly his model planes several times after work. Thanks for posting this page!

Jim Mcane III		25-Jul-2011 03:12
Regarding the photo of John and a person identified as Bill Lofland with the Orbiter/B-747 radio control models. I believe the person holding the orbiter model with John is probably Owen Morris. I was in the MSC (later JSC) Radio Control Club in the 1970's and flew models with both these great engineers.

Betsy Burnell		06-Jul-2010 20:10
Gary, What a beautiful tribute to John. Thank you for putting it together. I am so glad that you had the opportunity to meet him, only wish that he could have been present for the wedding. So glad that you, Sue and yours are now part of our family.

Guest		06-Jul-2010 17:18
Thanks for the wonderful tribute to John. I did not know John very well, since he was a little older that I, but he taught me how to make model airplanes about seventy years ago. I was amazed at the beautiful planes he had built and flew with real, gas powered motors. For a young kid, it was like being at the North Pole with Santa Clause. Bill Beck

modelaircraft		29-Jun-2010 16:18
Thank you for posting these great photos and the nice tribute(s) John Kiker! I wanted to make you aware of a video talking about his Space Shuttle model. Astronaut Hoot Gibson stopped by the National Model Aviation Museum and said a few words.. http://www.youtube.com/modelaircraft We would love to have additional photos and/or information as part of the museum exhibit if that is possible please contact me. Thank you, Mark Benson Academy of Model Aeronautics 765-287-1256 ext. 274

Sandra Miller		06-Apr-2009 01:09
What a wonderful tribute to my uncle John. He touched so many lives all across the world. Thanks for putting this together. Sandra Miller

Diana Smith		19-Mar-2009 22:35
Hi Gary, This is a wonderful tribute to my uncle, John. He was dearly loved by his family and admired by all those who knew him and many who did not know him. I miss him every day. He and my mother were extremely close, being the two youngest of five siblings in the Kiker family. I have enjoyed being able to know you and Sue a little from Marianne & Jeff's wedding and then again at Stephen & Jessica's wedding. You are a special family and a wonderful addition to the Kendrick family. Thanks for these memories. I hope our paths will cross again soon. Diana Smith

Trish Koontz		19-Mar-2009 19:04
This is a wonderful tribute to my Uncle John. My mother was John's sister. He was a wonderful loving brother to her and they were in close touch though many states apart. I am so happy that my children can see this and appreciate the accomplishments of their great-uncle. Thank you so much for the time and effort you took for this great tribute. Patricia Bridges Koontz Hillsborough, NC

Guest		16-Jul-2005 13:35
I knew John Kiker as a kid in Wadesboro, NC. He and I both built model airplanes and we entered our planes in a contest at a Western Auto Store that sold Comet model airplane kits. John won first place and I won second place. I have assembled an exhibit of John's achievements consisting of around 35 framed displays with photos and stories which will be displayed at the new Rotary Science & Technology Center and Planetarium in Wadesboro and eventually at the Anson County Historical Society Museum. John was a remarkable person from his youth to his passing. I consider it an honor to have known him as a child. T. D. Burns

Guest		16-Jul-2005 02:51
Gary, I love the gallery, and I think my dad would have loved it, too. He loved your son, Jeff, and told me that he thought Jeff and Marianne were a great match for each other. He said over and over what a good family Jeff had. He definitely counted you and Sue among his friends. Thank you for the wonderful tribute to my father! In the words of my father's flying buddies, "May your descents be thrilling and all your landings happy!" Love, Kay Kiker Kendrick

Guest		27-Jun-2005 03:36
His name is not as recognizable as that of John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Scott Carpenter or Virgil Grissom, but it probably was just as important to the space program as any astronaut's. Ever. John William Kiker, a Wadesboro native instrumental in the success of our space program, died in Houston on May 6 at age 79. His passion was aviation, any kind of aviation, and he owned a Stearman airplane before he had a car. He got his pilot's license in 1943, the same year he graduated from Wadesboro High School. Shortly thereafter, John joined the Army Air Forces. At age 27, he married sweetheart Isabel McDonald and that union produced sons Joel and Jerry, and daughter Kay (Kendrick). Cancer claimed Isabel's life in 1978. "He knew from an early age, somehow or other, his life's work would involve some major field of flying," said friend T.D. Burns. "His destiny was not involved with just flying airplanes; his engineering skills would lead him to become one of the major contributors to manned space flight and to assist in putting the first man on the moon." John got involved with NASA in 1959 and worked at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston until his 1987 retirement. Houston had a problem "LBJ and Lucy donated land to NASA in the bay area," said niece Betsy Burnell. But Houston had a problem. "When you put a shovel in the ground, it hit water. (John) was the one who designed the way these buildings were installed and built."Among John's responsibilities were descent parachutes and the docking systems for the lunar and Apollo modules, said son Jerry. He also shipped the shuttle from point of pickup back to the base. His proudest and probably most important achievement while at NASA was "the concept of flying ... the shuttle on top of the 747," his son said. "He was head of recovery -- doors, openings the chutes came out of, anything to do with recovery, he was responsible for," said Betsy. When the shuttle guys in Houston started thinking, they came up with the idea to build a plane to do two things: It could be launched, but after it landed on the ground, it would fly back on its own at the flip of a switch. He told them, `Guys, you're barking up the wrong tree.' " John was already an expert hobby model-builder so, he took a 747 model and built a (shuttle) model to piggyback on it "because nobody would believe him," Betsy said. Guys, this will work "He flew the models until he was confident. He would say (to the designers), `All right, guys, I'll show you how this is going to work.' He said that if he had to do it again, he'd have only one hookup (between the 747 and the shuttle), not two, as it's really difficult ... to get two hooks to fly on a 747," said Betsy. "He saved the space program many millions of dollars and endless delay through his work on this concept," said Jerry. "He was known, admired and respected by most of the astronauts and some have credited him with contributing as much to space exploration as the Wright brothers contributed to aviation," said T.D. Son-in-law Kenny Kendrick reported that John went for a plane ride the day before he died. Scanning the skies for his new home? Well, maybe, just maybe. Gerry Hostetler

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