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.
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