Biographical Sketches

GERARD POST HERRICK

Born: February 15, 1905    
Died: September 9, 1955    In: New York City, NY

Gerard Post Herrick. Inventor and research engineer who is known as the inventor of the "convertible aircraft." Graduated Princeton (AB, 1895) and the New York Law School (LLB, 1897), served as a captain in the Air Service during WW1 (1918-19). He is best known for his invention of the Herrick rotary engine and the Herrick Vertoplane, the first aircraft which could operate both as a fixed-wing airplane and as a gyroplane (1937). He remained as president of Convertoplane Corp, working on production plans for the Vertoplane, until his death.

Denotes an individual known to have soloed an aircraft prior to December 16, 1917, whether they were members of the "Early Birds of Aviation" Organization or not.