Lawrence Sperry

Pilot

Birthday December 22, 1892

Birth Sign Capricorn

Birthplace Illinois

DEATH DATE Dec 23, 1923 (31)

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About

Aviation pioneer who was nicknamed 'Gyro' for his numerous inventions to help improve the safety and navigation of early airplanes. In 1992 he was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida.

Before Fame

He developed an early interest in aviation after seeing a dating flight by Henri Farman.

Trivia

His invention of the autopilot allowed the flying of planes at night, and his parachutes and retractable landing gear helped more of his fellow pilots to survive aerial mishaps.

Family Life

The son of an aeronautic engineer father, he along with his brother once turned the family home into an airplane parts manufactory.

Associated With

A few decades after him, the Englishman Geoffrey Dehavillan also helped advanced aviation with his own line of planes.