Waldo Dean Waterman

Waldo Dean Waterman. , Waldo Dean Waterman was born in San Diego on June 16, 1894. He was an inventor, entrepreneur and an Early Bird aviation pioneer. , , During his early school years, he became very interested in the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss. , , An article in a 1909 issue of Popular Mechanics gave him the information he needed to build a glider. At the age of 15 he was the first person in the San Diego area to fly a heavier-than-air machine, right from this site. , , Waterman experimented with gliders and airplanes through his teen years. With heavy influences from the Navy and Glenn Curtiss, Waldo started shaping his education toward a career in aeronautical engineering. In 1912 Waterman enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley studying mechanical engineering. , , Waterman designed and built the first tail-less monoplane in the U.S. named the "Whatsit", which got it's name from everyone asking "What is it?". It was developed over 20 years and was meant to be landed on streets and owned by the common man. It was the first aircraft to have tricycle landing gear, which is still in use today. , , The "Whatsit" was the precursor to his next design, the "Arrowbile", which was the first successful flying car. Five prototype "Arrowbile" planes were constructed for a cross-country flight from Santa Monica to Ohio. Two of the five planes completed the journey. , , At the age of 78, Waldo D. Waterman was the oldest licensed pilot in the country. His contributions to aviation in this country, whether it was his inventions, teachings, or ability, helped shape the modem aviation industry. , , Inducted into the International Aerospace Hall of Fame, 1968