Earl Leland "Smitty" Smith (1895–1973) worked in aviation from his first flight in 1921 to his retirement in 1952. He worked as a pilot, flight instructor, and mechanic for numerous aviation companies throughout his career.[1] He was also a tester for the National Bureau of Standards and an investigator for the Civil Aeronautics Board.[1] Smith died in November of 1973.[1]
Smith is best known for commandeering the first rail-air flight across the US.[1] He flew over mountains, which was a path deemed dangerous at the time, to demonstrate that a flight-rail path from East to West Coasts was possible.[2]
He partnered with Bud Baker, another pilot, and started an airline: "It was in August 1929 that Bud and I started what is now United Air Lines."[3]
His first accident occurred on September 1, 1931.[1] Skillful at both flying and repairing planes, Smith was a pilot for major airlines like Eastern Air Transport and Condor Peruana de Aviniacion and a founder of his own mechanic shop in the early 1930s.[1]