Front:
ARDEN
FEB
13
CITY,
Lawrence and
Elmer Sperry
Aviation
Pioneers
1985
USAirmail 39 1530
Back:
THE SPERRYS
First Day of Issue: February 13, 1985
First Issue Location: Garden City, New York
In the early years of airplane flying, it was often remarked
that a pilot flying in low clouds and fog was almost as
good as dead. The problem was called "flying blind,"
or not being able to sense whether the plane was climb-
ing, diving, or spinning while flying in adverse weather
conditions. Elmer Sperry, American inventor and indus-
trialist was concerned about the problem of flying blind
and assisted in the development of the Sperry Artificial
Horizon, which gave pilots an immediate indication of
whether the plane was climbing, diving, or turning.
Sperry also invented other aeronautical instruments in-
cluding the gyrocompass and the automatic pilot. Elmer
Sperry was aided in the development and testing of many
of his inventions by his sons Lawrence and Elmer Sperry
Jr. Both brothers helped develop and test many aviation
innovations including the retractable landing gear and
the first guided missile in the form of an aerial torpedo.
Together, the Sperry family created important inventions
in aeronautics.
No. 85-7
©1985 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by John Benson.
