Worked with test pilot John Glenn

Published February 20, 2019

LYNNFIELD — Henry Stuckey Flickinger, 88, of Lynnfield, passed away Feb. 13, 2019, in Lynnfield.

Born on December 2, 1930, he was the son of Henry (Harry) Flickinger and Suzanne (Saginak) Flickinger of Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Flickinger graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore, Maryland in 1948. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1951. He then went on to receive a diploma from the Test Pilot Training (NATC) facility in Patuxent River, Maryland in 1952. From there, he received a master’s degree in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1954. In 1976, he attended the Senior Executive Program at the Sloan School of Management, a division of MIT.

In 1951, Mr. Flickinger began his career as a project engineer (Civil Service, Grade 13), where he was responsible for test and evaluation of armament control systems and experimental fighter aircraft. In this capacity, he drew out the test flight plans and worked hand-in-hand with John Glenn, his test pilot.

He then moved on to AVCO (1951) as manager of the Flight Engineering and Analysis Department, which was engaged in the planning, evaluation and analysis of all AVCO flight test programs. The MK5/11 reentry vehicle characterization for the Minuteman Missile evolved from this effort.

Mr. Flickinger then became director of the Reentry Vehicle Technology Program, where he administered the MX pre-prototype Reentry Vehicle (ABRV) program. This $30 million R&D program was the most complicated flight test program ever undertaken and the most successful program executed. In 1963, he served as program director/program manager of a series of classified experimental reentry R&D flight test programs. These programs formed the database for the Peacekeeper Missile.

Mr. Flickinger became vice president of Advanced Technology in 1974. In this position, he assumed responsibility for R&D activity associated with advanced strategic systems. Technologies spanned space defense systems, strategic reentry vehicles/penetration aids, and laser/electro optics systems. He interfaced with large/small aerospace companies, government review boards, Department of Defense policy offices, Congress and technical societies. Mr. Flickinger retired from AVCO in 1988 and joined the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory located in Cambridge. He assumed the position of director of technology, where he was responsible for Draper’s technology effort in the areas of avionics, guidance, navigation and control and spacecraft systems.

Mr. Flickinger was predeceased by his mother Suzanne Davis and his stepfather Nelson Davis. Mr. Flickinger was the beloved husband of Sally M. (Flanagan) Flickinger. He was the loving father of Henry S. “Hank” Flickinger Jr. and his wife Bridget of Lyme, New Hampshire; Holly Marker Flickinger Weiss of Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Richard “Sandy” Flickinger and his wife Sarah Anne of Magnolia; and Susan Beth Flickinger O’Leary and her husband Robert O’Leary of Hudson, New Hampshire. He was the cherished grandfather of Sarah, Michael, Andrew, Cole, Theresa, Blake, Brock, Paige, Cormac, Colbi, Zaira, Zailyn, Keely, Patrick and William.

Mr. Flickinger’s funeral service was held at the Centre Congregational Church, 5 Summer St., Lynnfield on Tuesday. Visitation for relatives and friends was held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Monday. Interment took place at Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter, 685 Canton St., Suite 103, Norwood, MA 02062.