Studied aeronautical engineering at the Technical Institue in Danzig, graduating in 1937.
1937 - returns to Latvia and begins to work for Irbitis at VEF, who places him in charge of aeronautical engineering.
Worked on the technical calculations for the I-12, and also designed a new propeller for that aircraft.
1938 - a member of the six-person latvian delegation to attend the Aero Salon of Paris, France.
1938-1939 - Worked on the design and prototype of the I-16.
1941 (Soviet Occupation) - as Melkus had a german mother, he was able to emigrate to Berlin, Germany when the Soviets
occupied Latvia.
In Germany, Melkus found employment with the Aerodynamische Versuchsandstait zu Gottingen and the
Deutsche Versuchsandstait fur Luftfahrt, where he worked on trans-sonic aerodynamics.
After the war he earned his doctorate in aerodynamics and was employed by the Wright Air Development Center
in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
In the 1960s, appointed chief of the engineering department of systems analysis at Holloman Air Force Base, in
New Mexico.
Died: Dec.10, 1970.
Sources
- Irbitis, Karlis Latvijas Aviacija un tas Pionieri
- Irbitis, Karlis Of Struggle and Flight
