Carl S. Bates

Carl Sterling Bates (January 1, 1884 † August 27, 1956) is credited with having designed and flown gliders in 1899, and in 1906 he designed and perfected what was said to be the world's first safe-type gasoline-powered airplane equipped with elevator, three-point landing gear, an air-cooled motor, metal propeller and wing rudders, the basic essentials found in airplanes today. [ [http://earlyaviators.com/ebates3.htm Early Aviators - Carl S. Bates' biography] ]

Bates was the first person in Iowa, USA to fly a heavier-than-air aircraft, he also built, flew and sold several aircraft and plans. Foundations of the modern hang gliding movement are traced in part to the popular Chanute style biplane that he spread with his articles to the public, as well as providing plans for homebuilders to build the biplane hang glider.

The selling of his "Bates Aeroworks" company to Edward Heath was the platform for the eventual development of engines for many Heath aircraft.

Carl S. Bates' influence on hang gliding and aviation are extensive. [ [http://earlyaviators.com/ebates3.htm Biography on Carl S. Bates] ] He played an important part in aviation design during the late 1800s; his influence through the publishing of "How-to-build at home a hang glider" affected his era and the later 1960s' renaissance in modern hang gliding. He built a monoplane hang glider at age 14 and he used a horse to tow it for a flight; the following year, he built a Chanute biplane hang glider. [ [http://www.earlyaviators.com/ebates.htm Carl S. Bates ] ]

In 2002 Carl S. Bates was inducted in the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame. [ [http://www.flyingmuseum.com/HOFDetails.aspx Iowa Aviation Hall Of Fame] ]

His Monoplane Hang Glider

In 1898 at age 14, Carl S. Bates built and flew monoplane hang glider. [ [http://www.iawings.com/images/publications/history/glider.jpgBates monoplane hang glider] ] [ Carl Bates was [http://www.iawings.com/publications/history.htm first to fly a manned glider in the state of Iowa, USA] ]

His Biplanes

He built several biplanes, some of which were meant for being powered. [ [http://aerofiles.com/bates1908.jpgBates 1908 biplane at Aerofiles] ]

The Bates Popular Mechanics Hang Glider

In April 1909 a how-to article by Carl Bates proved to be a seminal hang glider article tha seemingly affected builders even of contemporary times, as several builders would have their first hang glider made from following the plan in his article. [ [http://mywebpages.comcast.net/JerryCY/PMGlider/ The Popular Mechanics Glider] ]

Bates Aeroworks Company

Other Bates' Gliders

Bates Powered Aircraft

Carl Bates in the Ed Heath World

Bates Aircraft Engines

Creative Engineering Laboratory

References

* [http://josephfaust.com/hgh/carlbates/index.html Carl Sterling Bates]
* [http://www.dot.state.ia.us/kidspages/carlbates.html Carl Bates] See gravestone.
* [http://mywebpages.comcast.net/JerryCY/PMGlider/ Bates' Popular Mechanics Glider plan] as presented in a separate publication The Boy Mechanic.
* [http://mywebpages.comcast.net/JerryCY/PMGlider/Glider1913.html How to Build a Glider]
* [http://earlyaviators.com/ebates3.htm Biography]
* [http://aerofiles.com/_ba.html Aerofiles Article by Carl S. Bates] , describing how to build a [hang glider] .

See also

*History of hang gliding
*Ultralight aviation
*Biplane