Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell, best known for developing the telephone, was also a significant early contributor to transportation technology through his aeronautical and marine engineering experiments. In 1907 he cofounded the Aerial Experiment Association with a group of young engineers including Glenn Curtiss, sponsoring some of the earliest powered flights in North America, notably the Silver Dart in 1909, the first controlled powered flight in Canada and the British Empire. Bell also pursued hydrofoil research, working with Casey Baldwin to develop the HD-4 hydrofoil boat, which in 1919 set a world marine speed record of over 70 miles per hour, a record that stood for decades. His transport work reflected a broader engineering curiosity that spanned telecommunications, aviation and marine propulsion, and the AEA's collaborative structure influenced early aviation development in the United States and Canada.