Lawrence Sperry

Lawrence Burst Sperry ( born December 22, 1892 in Chicago, Illinois, † December 13, 1923 after ditching in the English Channel, his body was found on January 11, 1924) was American pilot and aviation pioneer.

Life

Sperry's interest in aviation began when he designed himself in 1909 a glider, built and flew. Four years later (1913 ) he trained at the famous Curtiss flight schools in Hammondsport, New York and in San Diego, California, for motor pilots.

He had no classic technical training. In the company of his father, Elmer Ambrose Sperry, the engineer and entrepreneur and had specialized in ship Gyro systems, but he found the necessary environment to develop his numerous inventions and innovations.

End of 1917, Lawrence Sperry Lawrence Sperry Aircraft Companies in Farmingdale, New York and he was over 20 patents. Among other things, for:

• Autopilot ( first presented already on June 18, 1914 Flight )
• Artificial Horizon
• Gyroscopic instruments for all weather
• Retracts
• Air torpedo

His inventions he underwent even the practical flight test, often he also took over the public presentation. In addition to his significant contributions to instrument flight and flight safety, which are still in Aerospace important, he also promoted the sport flying ( Mile High Club ).

He was missing M-1 Messenger since December 13, 1923 after a ditching in the English Channel with a machine of the type Verville - Sperry. His body was found on 11 January 1924.