Edward Stinson

Edward Anderson Stinson, Jr. (July 11, 1893 – January 26, 1932) was an American pilot and aircraft manufacturer. "Eddie" Stinson was the founder of Stinson Aircraft Company. At the time of his death in 1932 in an air crash, he was the world's most experienced pilot in flight hours with over 16,000 hours logged.

Biography
He was born in July 11, 1893 in Fort Payne, Alabama.

Stinson's oldest sister, Katherine, was an early female aviator. Eddie wanted to fly as well, and learned how to fly at the Wright School in Dayton Ohio. Stinson started exhibition flying in 1912. In World War I, he served as a flight instructor for the United States Army Air Corps at Kelly Field. In 1921, he set a world endurance record for flight. The following year, Stinson worked as a test pilot for the Stout Engineering Company becoming the test pilot for the all metal Stout ST-1 bomber.

In 1925, Stinson led a group of Detroit investors in building a new commercial aircraft, forming the Stinson Aircraft Syndicate. The prototype SB-1 Detroiter made its first public flight by 21 February 1926. This would lead to a series of successful aircraft designs built by the Stinson Aircraft Company.

Stinson died from injuries sustained while making an emergency landing in a Stinson Detroiter that had developed engine troubles. The aircraft's wing sheared off after striking a flagpole while attempting to land on a golf course. Three other passengers were injured.