1875-1953

German engineer considered the father of aerodynamics. His explanation of the boundary layer in fluid flow helped bridge the gap between empirical hydraulics and modern hydrodynamics and aerodynamics. Prandtl's studies of turbulent airflow laid the foundation for later work on chaotic motions and had important applications for aircraft and rocket design. He helped establish and served as director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Fluid Dynamics (now the Max Planck Institute) in 1925.