Which planes/aircraft was the auto-pilot first introduced for?

Question

And when was the time in history the auto-pilot became functional for the first time?

Answer 1

I suppose when the wright brothers invented the first plane,

Answer 2

Nope even earlier than that.

Sperry produced a prototype in 1912.

The Curtiss Condor was licensed to operate with an autopilot in 1931.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBBp8hfPl...

In WW2, the autopilot was nicknamed "George" from a movie (or advertising campaign I'm not sure which) line "Let George do it".  Which meant it's someone else's problem...

Answer 3

Wow, Jim has a good answer...I was going to say that auto pilot were introduce to commercial airlines in the late 70's after U.S. plane have fully developed the system

Answer 4

Jimbo is correct

Answer 5

Good question and after forty years flying I've not a clue.

Answer 6

Nyanna:

The first autopilot in 1914, Charles Lindbergh’s first successful solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927, Amelia Earhart’s landmark flight in 1932, and the world’s first sonic boom in 1947, were all made possible because of aviation technology developed by Honeywell and its legacy companies,

Source of data, Honeywell.

Mind Doctor, Panama

Answer 7

Curtiss Condor - 1931

Subsequent to the above, auto-pilot came into being.