Billy Robinson (aviator)

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William C. "Billy" Robinson (September 24, 1884, Redfield, South Dakota – March 11, 1916, near Grinnell, Iowa) was an early American aviator.

Robinson moved to Grinnell in 1896 at age 12. He was a handyman, tinkerer, and bicycle repairman who designed and built his own flying machine. In 1911, with the help of Charles Hink, Robinson constructed a 60 horsepower radial motor for his monoplane. His innovations for the radial motor were revolutionary. In 1914 he set a record for non-stop flight, carrying mail from Des Moines to Kentland, Indiana. Robinson perished while flying his biplane, attempting to set an altitude record on March 11, 1916.

[edit] External links

• Billy's entry in the Early Birds of Aviation.
• Billy Robinson's final flight
• Photographic history of Robinson's aviation accomplishments as part of the Iowa Heritage Digital Collection.