Foil: 13 Panel: 4 Column: 4 Line: 24

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Davis Aircraft Products Co Inc

Mr. Davis was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company which still bears his name over 50 years later. A prolific inventor with over 60 US and International patents, he designed and manufactured many different cargo control and restraint systems still in use in the commercial and military markets throughout the world. A pioneer in the safety restraint market he held the patent for the first modern (metal to metal) seatbelt used in aircraft and automobiles. Before starting his own company Mr. Davis was a respected engineer, amongst his earlier accomplishments, he was the Chief Consulting engineer for the raising of the Normandie, the French liner that burned and overturned at its berth in the Hudson River during WWII. He also was the Chief Consultant to R. Buckminster Fuller during the building of the first Geodesic Dome, a consultant to the Army Air Corp in WWII & Berlin Air Lift. His successful design for quick loading of airfreight proved invaluable during the airlift and contributed greatly to its success.