1/23/2026 Debra Levey Larson
Robert H. Liebeck, world-renowned aerodynamicist, professor, and aerospace engineer, died on Jan. 12, 2026, at the age of 87. Originally from Wheaton, Illinois, Liebeck came to the University of Illinois in the late 1950s and earned three degrees in aerospace engineering: BS ’61, MS ’62, and PhD ’68. It was during research for his doctoral thesis, "Optimization of Airfoils for Maximum Lift," that he produced the first airfoil designs, which became known as the Liebeck airfoil.
Written by Debra Levey Larson
Robert H. Liebeck, world-renowned aerodynamicist, professor, and aerospace engineer, died on Jan. 12, 2026, at the age of 87.
Originally from Wheaton, Illinois, Liebeck came to the University of Illinois in the late 1950s and earned three degrees in aerospace engineering: BS ’61, MS ’62, and PhD ’68. It was during research for his doctoral thesis, "Optimization of Airfoils for Maximum Lift," that he produced the first airfoil designs, which became known as the Liebeck airfoil.
In 2018, Liebeck was on campus to accept the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award. In an interview, Liebeck talked about how the idea for his namesake airfoil began, saying “I didn’t start by taking an existing airfoil and modifying it. I went back to first principles and asked, where does lift come from in an airplane?”
Liebeck worked with Professor Al Ormsbee in the 1960s for his graduate studies at Illinois and worked summers in California at the company that would eventually become Boeing in 1997. He retired from his position there as senior fellow in 2020.
He managed several of Boeing's airplane programs through which advanced-concept aircraft were designed. He has made contributions to a variety of related fields, including propeller design, windmill design, and the design of high-altitude unmanned aircraft.
Liebeck co-developed the blended-wing-body—considered to be a revolutionary design for subsonic transports. NASA invested the first $30K to study the blended wing in the early 1990s, shortly after Liebeck published a design for a blended wing at McDonnell-Douglas. Liebeck worked with Blaine Rawdon and AE alumni Mark Page, BS ’79, for another three years with NASA funding.
In 2023, Page’s startup, JetZero, was developing a blended wing passenger jet with 50 percent less fuel and 50 percent lower emissions than similar-sized, tube and wing passenger jets flying today. A year later, the U.S. Air Force awarded JetZero with a $235 million contract to build a full-size demonstrator. Liebeck served as a technical advisor for the project.
In addition to aircraft, Liebeck designed wings for Indianapolis 500 and Formula One racing cars and the keel for the America yacht, which won the 1992 America's Cup. He also designed propellers and wings for race cars and the wing for NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" in 2007.
Liebeck seized opportunities to teach. As a professor, Liebeck lectured in aerodynamics and aircraft design courses at several universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Irvine and the University of Southern California.
Over his more than 60-year career, Liebeck received numerous awards. In 2005, he received AIAA’s Aircraft Design Award and the Spirit of St. Louis Medal. Five years later, he was named an AIAA Honorary Fellow. That same year, he received the 2010 Daniel Guggenheim Medal.
The following year, Liebeck received prestigious awards from two universities. At Illinois, he was inducted into The Grainger Engineering Hall of Fame and at UC Irvine, he was given the Engineering the Future award from the Henry Samueli School of Engineering. And in 2019, he was an inductee of the International Air & Space Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Liebeck was generous with his time, intellect and resources. Whenever possible, he returned to campus to speak with students, later using online platforms. In 2015, he endowed the Department of Aerospace Engineering’s first named professorship in honor of his mentor Allen Ormsbee.
A funeral service will be held at Pacific View Legacy Chapel, located at 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, California, 92625. The service is scheduled for February 2, 2026, at 2:00 pm. The service will be available via live stream at https://www.viewlogies.net/pacific-view/HoozzdSyb?pin=512577.
Remembrances
A Note About Bob, from Pres Henne, BS ‘69
First, my condolences to Cindy and the whole Liebeck family.
My association with Bob goes all the way back to the Univ of Illinois Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in the late 1960’s. We were fellow Illini. Bob achieved his PhD there in 1968. He went to work for Douglas Aircraft Co in Long Beach CA. I achieved my BS in AAE in 1969. I essentially followed Bob to Douglas one year later.
At Douglas I was always fascinated by Bob’s ability to take a question or a problem and distill it down to basic principles. From those he had a knack to develop the appropriate answer or solution. I believe he did that during his entire aero engineering career. The development of the Liebeck Airfoils, clarification of Propeller and Windmill Theory, extensions of the Gurney Flap to aviation, the design of racecar wings, the development of the Blended Wing Body, the development of collegian aircraft design courses, and other un-nameable projects all succeeded due to Bob’s skill at engineering problem solving. The world is a better place because of it.
Throughout the years, even after I moved to Gulfstream on the east coast, Bob and I maintained contact. I often had aero questions that I knew Bob could and did help with. The stories abound. In this process Bob and I could often poke fun at each other and get a good laugh out of it.
One thing Bob and I had in common was an interest in Corvettes. We often compared notes on the newest model or newest generation Corvette. When Bob got a new one, it was usually white and basic. My description was plain jane. He didn’t like that. When I got a new one, it was usually yellow and loaded with options and carbon fiber stuff. Bob described mine as showboat (or something worse). I didn’t like that. But we had fun poking at each other in the process.
I will miss those calls with Bob. He was a great engineer and a good friend. Rest in peace, Bob.
Pres Henne
From Ed Thompson, BS '61
I was a classmate of Bob and remember him as outstanding. He and George Carruthers helped me a lot on getting through the rigorous standards of graduation.
From Earl Dowell, BS '59
Delighted to see this remembrance of Bob Liebeck. He was truly one of a kind as a person and an engineer.
From John R. Dennis, BS '66
Very sorry to hear of Bob’s passing and my condolences to his family, friends and coworkers. I haven’t seen him since the 1960s when he was a graduate student and instructor in the department and I was an undergraduate. Yes, he was my instructor for the course in aerospace vehicle design. I learned a lot from him in a short time. More about demanding more from yourself. I recall getting a B on a test or report and I went to talk with him because I thought I deserved an A. I don’t remember his exact words but it was something like, "John, you’re just going to have go that extra little bit if you want an A from me." Needless to say I settled for the B. That experience has stuck with me for the 60 years that have gone by since.