Wiley Post

Wiley Hardeman Post ( born November 22, 1898 in Van Zandt County, † August 15 1935 in Point Barrow ) was an American pilot, in 1933 made ​​the first solo flight around the earth succeeded.

After he had in an oil field accident lost the mid-1920s an eye, he bought from the compensation his first airplane.

In 1931 he set a record for the circumnavigation of the world along with the navigator Harold Gatty. By plane Lockheed Vega 5C " Winnie Mae," she circled the globe in 8 days, 15 hours and 51 minutes ( stage points: New York, Newfoundland, England, Germany, Russia, Alaska, New York).

On 15 July 1933 he took off from Long Iceland for the first solo flight around the globe. The " Winnie Mae " was fitted to the first autopilot. After a flight of 7 days, 18 hours and 49 minutes he returned.

In 1934 he developed with Russell S. Colley of the Goodrich Corporation the first practical pressure suit. On September 5, 1934, he thus reached over Chicago a flight altitude of 40,000 feet. This allowed him to fly in the jet stream.

In 1935, he built from the wreckage of a Lockheed Orion and a Lockheed Explorer a new aircraft. His friend Will Rogers asked him to fly him through Alaska. On 15 August 1935 she was on the way from Fairbanks to Point Barrow. Along the way she landed in a lagoon to ask for directions. Immediately after starting the engine fell out; was probably one of the tanks empty. Both died in the crash.

In his honor, the airport of Bethany, Oklahoma " Wiley Post Airport " and the airport of Barrow, Alaska " Wiley Post - Will Rogers Memorial Airport " were named.