FONÓ, Albert

F. studied at the Technical University in Budapest, and after graduation worked in factories in Hungary, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Great Britain. Upon his return he obtained his degree of Ph. D. in the technical field and then worked as a consultant and engineering designer. His main area of work was the energy technology, which had already been discussed in his dissertation, entitled »Mechanics of working memory in the electric drive«. Among his many inventions two are most noteworthy, a steam boiler developed in 1923 and an air compressor for mines in 1928. The Siemens company bought his patent for controlling the brakes on transport and railway machines in 1924. In his attempts to develop an airships in 1926 he was helped by Todor →Kármán. From scientific, technical and historical aspects his early contributions to the development of jet propulsion are very important. His first invention during World War I in 1915 operated on the jet propulsion principle. The device called an »aerial torpedo« was intended to increase the effective range of artillery. The basic principle of his system was based on additional acceleration of the projectile. So despite a lower initial speed it was possible to shoot from a relatively far distance. It was also possible for a light cannon to fire heavy ammunition. F. submitted his invention to the Austro-Hungarian Army but his proposal was rejected. At the end of 1920s he once again returned to the subject of jet propulsion. In 1928 he developed an »air-jet engine«, which was suitable for high-altitude supersonic aircrafts. In the two patent applications, which he filed in Germany, F. described four variants of jet propulsion. The patent was finally granted after years of precise examination in 1932. Granted patents clearly confirmed F.’s primacy in the field of jet propulsion.
In 1947 F. was given a position of private docent at the Technical University of Budapest. From 1954 on he was a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and from 1968 on a corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics.