Coffey, Cornelius Robinson
1903-1994 · Contribution: 1929-1969
Industrial & Mechanical
Became the first African American certified aircraft mechanic in the United States in 1932 and designed a patented carburetor heating system that prevented icing, allowing aircraft to fly safely in cold and wet weather, a design principle still used in aviation today
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Quick facts
- Born
- 1903-1994
- Active since
- 1929-1969
- Category
- Industrial & Mechanical
Impact on the world
Coffey opened aviation to Black Americans as its first Black certified mechanic and built the school that fed the Tuskegee Airmen program, while solving an icing problem that grounded early aircraft.
An alternative history
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Sources
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