Jim Chamberlin

James A. (Jim) Chamberlin (1915-1981) was a Canadian aerodynamicist who contributed to the design of the Canadian Avro Arrow, NASA Gemini space capsule and Apollo Lunar Module (LM). In addition to his pioneering air and space efforts, he is often cited as an example of Canadian brain drain to the U.S.

Profile

Jim Chamberlin was born in Kamloops, British Columbia on May 23, 1915. Having maintained a keen interest in model airplanes during high school at the University of Toronto Schools, he took mechanical engineering degrees at the University of Toronto (1936) and Imperial College London (1939).

Career

Chamberlin began his engineering career with the British aircraft company (and later ejection seat manufacturers) Martin-Baker before returning to Canada, where he worked on the British Avro Anson with Federal Aircraft Ltd. in Montreal (1940-1941), on training and anti-submarine aircraft as chief engineer at Clarke Ruse Aircraft in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (1941-1942), and on the Norseman as research engineer in Robert Noorduyn's company in Montreal.

In 1945, Chamberlin joined Avro Aircraft Ltd. in Toronto, the Canadian subsidiary of the British Hawker Siddeley Group, where Chamberlin was chief aerodynamicist on the C-102 Jetliner and CF-100 "Canuck" jet interceptor and, later, chief of technical design for the CF-105 Avro Arrow, generating many of the ideas that would make the design famous.

Following the Canadian government's cancellation of the Avro Arrow project in 1959, Chamberlin led a team of 25 engineers to NASA's Space Task Group; this team would eventually grow to 32 Avro engineers and technicians, and become emblematic of what many Canadians viewed as a brain drain to the U.S. As head of engineering for Project Mercury, head of the U.S. Space Task Group’s engineering division and project manager on the Gemini program, as well as chief designer for the Gemini spacecraft built by Douglas, and, troubleshooter on Project Apollo, Chamberlin played an instrumental role in devising and implementing the pre-shuttle generation of American spacecraft.Chamberlin was described by a NASA Administrator as “one of the most brilliant men ever to work with NASA.” [http://www.canadainspace.ca/longdesc/timeline_en.php] In March 1962, millions of people watched John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, wave to the crowds in New York from the lead limousine of his ticker tape parade. Directly behind, in the second limousine, was Jim Chamberlin.

Chamberlin left NASA in 1970 to join McDonnell Douglas Astronautics, where he prepared an ultimately unsuccessful space shuttle bid before becoming technical director for the company's facility at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, a position he held until his death in 1981.

Honours

NASA awarded Jim Chamberlin its Exceptional Scientific Achievement, Exceptional Engineering Achievement, Exceptional Service, and Gold medal. He was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001.

Further reading

*Gainor, Chris. "Arrows to the Moon: Avro's Engineers and the Space Race," Burlington, Ontario: Apogee, 2001, ISBN 1-896522-83-1.
*Stewart, Greig. "Shutting Down the National Dream: A.V. Roe and the Tragedy of the Avro Arrow." Toronto: McGraw-Hill-Ryerson, 1991.
* Whitcomb, Randall."Avro Aircraft and Cold War Aviation." St. Catharine's, Ontario: Vanwell, 2002; also available through [http://www.avroarrow.org Arrow Recovery Canada.]
* Zuk, Bill. "Avrocar, Canada's Flying Saucer..." Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press, 2001. ISBN 1-55046-359-4.