Post, Wiley (1899-1935), a pioneer American aviator, was the first person to make a solo flight around the world. He made the historic flight in 1933 in a single-engine Lockheed Vega nicknamed Winnie Mae, covering 15,596 miles (25,099 kilometers) in 7 days 18 hours 49 minutes. Post used a new automatic flight control system that steered the plane while he rested (see Automatic flight control system (AFCS) ). Two years earlier, Post and navigator Harold Gatty had flown the Winnie Mae around the world in a record 8 days 15 hours 51 minutes.
Post was born in Van Zandt County, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1899. He learned to fly in the 1920’s and bought his first plane in 1926. Post flew in a number of speed events, winning the National Air Race of 1930.
Post later advanced high-altitude flight by helping design a rubber suit that allowed him to operate in low air pressures at more than 30,000 feet (9,000 meters). Post died in a plane crash in Alaska with his friend the cowboy-humorist Will Rogers on Aug. 15, 1935.
