| (1899
- 1980) |
| Inducted: |
1980 |
| Region: |
MidWest |
| Industry: |
Transportation
|
|
William Patterson entered the aviation business when the industry was entirely dependent on airmail subsidies. Patterson and his fellow pioneer at American Airlines, C.R. Smith, would airmail each other bricks and catalogues just to increase the volume. He saw that the future lay in passengers, not mail. He understood that customers would not board his airplanes in large numbers unless flying was made safer. He hired an eccentric inventor to perfect the first air-to-ground radio and the wing deicer. Patterson also funded the first workable instrument landing system. |
