Life and work in aviation
Wiley Post (1898–1935) was an American pilot known for round-the-world flights and high-altitude experiments. He circumnavigated with navigator Harold Gatty in 1931 and alone in 1933. His Lockheed Vega Winnie Mae became an iconic record aircraft. He also helped develop high-altitude equipment for pilots in thin air.
Plane Winnie Mae
For long-distance routes, Post used Lockheed Vega with his own name Winnie Mae. The single-engine aircraft was important as a complete system: the reliability of the engine was supplemented by a reserve of fuel, navigation equipment and pilot training. Its preservation in the museum collection allows you to view the record through a real design, and not only through the story of the time for which the route was passed.
Two Round the World Routes
In flight 1931, Post worked with navigator Harold Gatty. Two years later, he completed the route on his own, using technical means that helped one pilot. These achievements relate to different crew and working conditions. Single flight required allocating attention between piloting and navigation, and ground stops remained an important part of the organization of the journey.
Experiments at high altitude
Post worked on the ability to fly above the normal operating levels of the time. This required special equipment to protect the pilot at low atmospheric pressure. The development of high-rise costume has become a separate technical task. The plane could climb higher than a person is able to endure for a long time without protection, so human limitations were part of the program of experiments.
Career Ending
Post died in 1935 in an airplane accident in Alaska with Will Rogers. His legacy includes not only two round-the-world routes, but also studies of the working conditions of the pilot. The biography shows the transition from record range to high-altitude aviation: a better machine requires both new equipment, different training and understanding of how the environment affects a person.
How to understand the aviation record
Aviation achievements are recorded on a specific task and category. Speed on a short section, speed on a closed route and range require different conditions. The result with a useful load is not equal to the indicator of an empty machine. Therefore, the comparison begins with a description of the task, the type of device and the registration rules. A simple number without this context can create a false impression, even if the date and surname of the pilot are correct.
For a long-distance route, fuel, mass, and equipment must correspond to the intended stages. Additional tanks can increase the stock, but change the load and interior space. Wind affects the speed relative to the ground and the time of passage of the site. The ocean route also limits the choice of landing sites. Training includes ground stations and communications, so a successful flight is the result of the work not only of the person behind the controls, but also of the organization’s team.
Single flight means one pilot in a flight crew, not lack of assistance on the ground. The non-stop route excludes intermediate landings, but the possibility of refueling in the air requires a separate clarification. The round-the-world journey with stops refers to a different type of achievement than continuous flight. Keeping these differences allows you to honestly describe records of different eras and not attribute to one crew what the other performed under different conditions.
Long-term work affects a person: attention and the ability to make decisions must be maintained throughout the program. In a multi-seat aircraft, duties are shared among participants, and in a single route, training provides affordable ways to reduce the load. The historical record shows the possibilities of a particular project. It does not become a ready-made instruction for modern flight and does not cancel the requirements for equipment, qualifications and planning of normal operation.
Major achievements
- Went around the world with Harold Gatty in 1931
- Performed a single round-the-world route in 1933
- Participated in the development of high-altitude equipment
Aircraft and flying machines
- Lockheed Vega Winnie Mae
Organisations and events
American record aviation
- World Routes 1931 and 1933
- High-altitude experiments of the 1930s
Questions about this biography
Why is Wylie Post in the history of aviation?
He circled the world with Harold Gatty in 1931. He completed a single round-the-world route in 1933. Participated in the development of high-altitude equipment.
With what field of aviation is this biography connected?
Wylie Post (1898–1935) was an American pilot known for circumnavigation and high-altitude aviation.
What aircraft are involved in this work?
Related to biography: Lockheed Vega Winnie Mae. Their role and period are described in the main sections.
What events help to understand the professional path?
Major historical episodes: Round-the-world routes of 1931 and 1933; High-altitude experiences of the 1930s.
What organizations are mentioned in the biography?
Professional Path Linked to Organizations and Communities: American Record Aviation.
Were both flights solo?
Oh, no. In 1931, he flew with Harold Gatty, and performed an independent route in 1933.
What is the technical context of this story?
Aviation achievements are recorded on a specific task and category. Speed on a short section, speed on a closed route and range require different conditions. The result with a useful load is not equal to the indicator of an empty machine. Therefore, the comparison begins with a description of the task, the type of device and the registration rules. A simple number without this context can create a false impression, even if the date and surname of the pilot are correct.