Wiley Post

Wiley Post. He was a pioneering American aviator renowned for his daring solo flights and significant contributions to high-altitude aviation. Post set multiple speed and distance records, most famously completing the first solo circumnavigation of the globe in 1933. His innovative work on pressurized flight suits and the study of the jet stream cemented his legacy as a key figure in the early history of aeronautics. His life was tragically cut short in an aircraft accident in Alaska alongside his friend, the humorist Will Rogers.

Early life and background

Wiley Hardeman Post was born in Van Zandt County, Texas, and spent much of his youth in Oklahoma. His formal education was limited, and he developed an early fascination with machinery, working various jobs in the oil fields of the Mid-Continent Oil Field. A pivotal moment occurred in 1924 when he lost his left eye in an industrial accident; the insurance settlement he received funded his first flying lessons. He used the money to purchase his first aircraft, a Canuck biplane, marking his entry into the world of aviation. This period in the American Southwest shaped his resilient and mechanically adept character.

Aviation career

Post began his professional aviation career as a barnstormer and parachutist, performing daring stunts at fairs across the Midwestern United States. His big break came in 1926 when he was hired as the personal pilot for wealthy Oklahoma oilman F.C. Hall. In this role, Post flew a Lockheed Vega, an advanced high-wing monoplane he famously named the *Winnie Mae* after Hall's daughter. He quickly gained a reputation for exceptional skill and meticulous preparation, competing in prestigious air races like the National Air Races. His association with the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation and access to such a capable aircraft were instrumental for his future record-setting endeavors.

Record-breaking flights

Post achieved global fame through two monumental flights in the *Winnie Mae*. In 1931, with navigator Harold Gatty, he completed a record-breaking around-the-world flight, circling the globe in just 8 days, 15 hours, and 51 minutes, earning them the Collier Trophy. Not content, Post sought to break his own record alone. In July 1933, he embarked on the first solo circumnavigation, utilizing an early autopilot and a radio direction finder to navigate. He completed this journey in 7 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes, shattering the previous mark and solidifying his status as a national hero and a master of long-distance flight.

High-altitude research and pressure suit

Following his circumnavigation, Post turned his attention to the challenges of high-altitude flight. He aimed to develop an efficient high-speed air mail route by flying in the strong winds of the upper atmosphere. To survive at altitudes above 50,000 feet, he collaborated with the B.F. Goodrich Company to create one of the world's first practical pressure suits. Made of rubberized fabric with a helmet featuring a removable faceplate, this suit was a precursor to modern space suits. During test flights from Floyd Bennett Field and Chicago, Post discovered and documented the existence of the jet stream, a major contribution to meteorology and transcontinental flight planning.

Death and legacy

On August 15, 1935, Post and Will Rogers were killed when their Lockheed Orion floatplane crashed shortly after takeoff near Point Barrow, Alaska. The National Transportation Safety Board later determined engine failure and aircraft overload as likely causes. Post's legacy is profound; he is enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the International Air & Space Hall of Fame. His pioneering work on pressure suits directly influenced the development of NASA's technology for the Mercury program. Airports in Oklahoma City and Alaska bear his name, and his record-setting *Winnie Mae* is preserved at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C..

Category:American aviators Category:1898 births Category:1935 deaths