William Powell Lear

	WILLIAM POWELL LEAR Engineer - Inventor - Aircraft Manufacturer
	Born Hannibal, Missouri, 26 June 1902. The saga of his inventive genius begins in 1922 with his founding of the Quincy Radio Laboratory which produced the first practical automobile radio. From 1930 to 1950 Lear was granted more than 100 patents for advanced aircraft communications and navigation equipment which have had world-wide application in civil and military aviation. Most notable were the first practical radio compass, and the Learmatic navigator. During the Post WWII years his genius led the industry in miniaturization of aircraft electronics and production of fully automatic flight equipment for blind landings. In 1962 formed Lear Jet Industries, producing the eminently successful and world acclaimed Learjet executive aircraft - the first jet aircraft in the world developed and financed by a single private individual. Died 14 May 1978.
	Elected to the International Aerospace Hall of Fame 1981