Career
He piloted gliders in 1899, and in 1906 he designed a gasoline powered airplane that was equipped with a three-point landing gear, an air-cooled engine, a metal propeller and metal wing rudders. Bates was the first person in Iowa to fly a heavier-than-air aircraft. He also built, flew and sold several aircraft and plans.
Foundations of the modern hang gliding movement are traced in part to the popular Chanute style biplane that he spread with his articles to the public, as well as providing plans for homebuilders to build the biplane hang glider.
In 1898 at age 14, Bates built and flew a hang glider. In April 1909 he authored a Popular Science how-to article on hang glider construction In 1911, Bates designed a built and monoplane with an engine of his own design.
In 1912, Bates sold his company, the Bates Aeroplane Company, to Edward Bayard Heath. His company, the East.B. Heath Aerial Vehicle Company produced the popular Heath Parasol aircraft.
After changing ownership several times, the company switched products to the emerging kit electronics market, becoming Heathkit.
He died in 1956. In 2002 Bates was inducted in the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame.
