Avionics pionneer Nate Zelazo dies at 100 years of age

Milwaukee, Wisc., – Nathaniel "Nate" Zelazo, a Polish immigrant who earned money for school textbooks by selling ice cream on the streets of New York and who grew up to launch a global avionics business in Milwaukee has died at age 100. Zelazo and his sister, Norma Paige, founded Astronautics Corporation of America in 1959. The company, which now has more than 1,200 employees, makes devices used in aircraft navigation and air-to-ground communications, among other things. A key customer is Boeing Corp. and its 787 Dreamliner. But long before there was a 787, Zelazo was on the cutting edge of aviation, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.

Continue reading original article

The Intelligent Aerospace take:

November 28, 2018 -- Mr. Zelazo's company, Astronautics, pioneered the use of "electronic flight bags," unburdening pilots of up to 50 pounds of documents including maps, charts, and flight plans. Zelazo wass the president of Astronautics until 1984, and CEO until his retirement in 2000. In 2004, Zelazo came out of retirement to become the CEO of Kearfott Guidance and Navigation Corp., an Astronautics subsidiary, for approximately three years. He will be missed.

Related: Astronautics Roadrunner electronic flight instrument takes flight at Paris Air Show

Related: Astronautics and Vector jointly pursue STCs for RoadRunner electronic flight instrument

Related: Military chooses resolver motion-control devices from Kearfott to help keep tank guns on target

Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace

Ready to make a purchase? Search the Intelligent Aerospace Buyer's Guide for companies, new products, press releases, and videos