Biography
Bird was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Bird became a pilot at an early age due to the encouragement of his father, a World War I pilot, and from meeting Orville Wright at an early age. He performed his first solo flight at age 14; by age 16, he was working to obtain multiple major pilot certifications. Bird enlisted with the United States Army Air Corps, and entered active duty in 1941 as a technical air training officer due to his advanced qualifications. This rank, combined with the onset of World War II, gave him the opportunity to pilot almost every aircraft in service, including early jet aircraft and helicopters.
The newest models of aircraft were capable of exceeding altitudes at which humans can breathe normally, introducing the risk of altitude sickness.
In 1967, Bird developed the Bird Innovator, a conversion of the Consolidated PBY Catalina amphibian aircraft. His company was Bird Oxygen Breathing Equipment Inc, later renamed Bird Corporation, the aircraft being based at Palm Springs until 1976.
Bird currently resides in Sagle, Idaho, close to the U.S. / Canadian border which is where his home, production facilities, museum and farm are located. Dr. Bird collects and restores old planes, old cars, and motorcycles.
July 7, 2007 marked the opening of the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center with Patty Wagstaff cutting the ribbon at the end of the runway while flying. Forrest and Pamela Bird are founders and owners with Bird's aircraft and inventions on display.
On December 10, 2008, Bird received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President George Bush. The United States honored him for his groundbreaking contributions and for his work to keep America at the forefront of discovery. On October 7, 2009, President Barack Obama awarded Bird the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, a recognition of his "outstanding contributions to the promotion of technology for the improvement of the economic, environmental or social well-being of the United States."
Read more about this topic: Forrest Bird
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