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Wall of Honor Level: Air and Space Friend
Honored by:
Mr. William Paton
Reverend Robert Paton, 5/8/1860 to 9/10/1959, Obtained a U. S. Patent #994782 for an impractical "Improvement in Aeroplanes" to "Secure Automatic Equilibrium in Aeroplanes" using the pilot's seat as a pendulum controlling the ailerons and elevator." The system would have functioned successfully only in a static mode.
He corresponded with Orville Wright after receiving the patent and was informed in a letter of 2/7/1914 that the Wright Company already held earlier patents covering the concept. Mr. Wright did not comment on the impracticality of the autopilot.
Rev. Paton's interest in aviation rubbed off on his youngest son, Andrew W. Paton, who went on to establish the Division of Aviation at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Wall of Honor profiles are provided by the honoree or the donor who added their name to the Wall of Honor. The Museum cannot validate all facts contained in the profiles.
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