Born 1899,
Grand Saline, Texas
Died August 15, 1935,
Point Barrow, Alaska
After learning to fly by working as a stuntman in an air show, Wiley Post went on to set a speed record for flying around the world. This American aviator then became the first person to fly solo around the globe. If an accident had not cut short his life, Post might well have gone on to other major achievements in aviation.
Post grew up on farms in Texas and Oklahoma. He quit school after the eighth grade to work at odd jobs. He had decided at an early age that he wanted to be an aviator, but he had a problem finding the money for flying lessons. As it turned out, his courage helped him find a way to overcome this obstacle.
Post was in Texas in 1924 when he went to see pilots do stunts in a “flying circus.” The circus parachute jumper was injured and could not perform. Although he had been in a plane only once—and had never jumped out of one—he volunteered to substitute for the parachutist. At 2,000 feet he climbed out onto the right wing and jumped off.
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