Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane and Lawrence Sperry decided that he would be the test pilot. While taxiing it on ice, he hit some slushy snow, and wrecked the plane, though Sperry was unhurt. A second airplane was fitted out, and Sperry managed to get it in the air, but lost control when the automatic pilot was engaged. After two complete rolls, Sperry managed to regain control and land safely. Clearly, though, more attention to flight testing the basic design was needed, particularly in the area of handling qualities. Sperry and his assistant, N. W. Dalton, obtained a Marmon automobile, and mounted the Curtiss-Sperry Flying
Sperry Marine Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine is part of Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and, through various mergers, has built a heritage that includes Decca Radars, Sperry Marine, and C. Plath. Northrop Grumman purchased Litton Industries in April 2001 forming Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine. Sperry Marine Northrop Grumman offers a range of marine navigation products and solutions including Marine Radars, Gyrocompasses, Steering Systems, Autopilots and Integrated Bridge Systems. Sperry Marine is one of the oldest manufacturers of gyro compasses. Its founder, Elmer Ambrose Sperry, was working on the first prototype of the gyrocompass at the same time as Hermann