Lawrence Burst Sperry's interest in aeronautics began early in life when he produced and piloted a glider of his own design at the age of 17. Four years later in 1913 he mastered powered flight under the tutelage of the eminent Glenn Curtiss Schools at Hammondsport, New York, and San Diego, California. Lacking the benefit of a formal engineering training, his gifts of native mechanical ability and high curiosity, coupled with the urgent needs of the sibling aviation industry, spurred him to produce numerous inventions and innovations which have become indispensable to aviation and space flight. Among the scores of inventions which bear his name, those concerning gyroscopic stabilization of flight instruments have produced the most profound effect on aviation and space flight. The nickname "Gyro," which he acquired early in his career, is most apt. The automatic pilot for aircraft, the automatic flight of unmanned vehicles, and gyro instruments for all weather flight are but a few of his contributions. His fertile intellect led him into other regions of the aero endeavor also. These included navigation and aerodynamics, flight safety and instrumentation, and the promotion of sport flying. Typical of Sperry's true character was his personal involvement in the flight testing and demonstration of most of his inventions. Sperry was lost at sea on December 13, 1923, while flying from England to Holland.
Inducted in 1979.
Portrait Location: Hall of Fame Hallway