A good flying start

The aircraft autopilot was first developed by Sperry Corporation of America in 1912. Lawrence Sperry demonstrated it two years later in 1914, proving the credibility of the invention by flying the aircraft with his hands visibly away from the controls.

The astonishing fact is that in 1909 John Galea, a Maltese lawyer, applied for and was granted British patents for "automatic balancing apparatus for aerial machines". As the first aeroplane did not appear in Malta until 1915, he can only have read about "aerial machines".

Giovanni, as he was christened, was born in Valletta in 1883. His father, Giuseppe Galea, hailed from Għarb, as did all his forefathers back to Domenico Galea in 1576.

Giuseppe had left home as a young man to seek work in Malta and, to start with, he was a gentleman's servant. He went on to become a very successful businessman and landowner and he made sure that all his sons received an excellent education. The eldest went into the Church, studied in Rome, lectured at the University and, as has been written of him: "Mons Paolo Galea (1866 -1952), saċerdot, skrittur u ħabib kbir tal-Malti, vigarju ġeneral ta' Malta" (priest, writer and a big lover of the Maltese language, vicar general of Malta).

The youngest, Giovanni, or John, as in the patents, read law and was granted his advocate's warrant in 1908.

In December 1903, the Wright brothers had invented the first practical heavier-than-air powered flying machine. The fundamental breakthrough was their "three-axis control", which enabled the pilot to steer the aircraft effectively and to maintain its equilibrium.

During the next few years, exciting reports of flying machines rippled through American and European newspapers and journals and many offered prizes to pioneering airmen. The London Daily Mail had offered £1,000 for the first successful crossing of the English Channel, which Louis Blériot claimed on July 25, 1909.

The new flying machines must have been fascinating for those of an adventurous mind. One can well imagine University student John avidly reading all about aeronautics rather than points of law. He certainly had a good understanding of aerodynamics and electrical engineering to design an apparatus that passed the rigorous test of the British Patent Office.

The introductory paragraphs of his Patent Application of Complete Specification is evidence of his competence: "This invention relates to automatic balancing apparatus for aerial machines and vessels and is of the kind in which the automatic operation of the balancing devices is effected by means of a pendulum so as to maintain or restore the equilibrium of such machines or vessels.

"The object of this invention is to provide an automatic balancing apparatus of this description, which will not come into operation unless the balance of the aerial machine or vessel is dangerously affected so that all ordinary manoeuvres of the same are entirely unhampered by such improved balancing device.

"The balancing planes are normally held in an inoperative closed position by their controlling springs, against which they can be opened by corresponding electro-magnets or motors, which are automatically brought into operation, so as to open the planes in the direction of the disturbing air currents, by means of a wind vane and pendulum, as hereafter described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference numerals indicate like parts."

He probably had been motivated by reading about aviators experiencing great difficulty in maintaining straight-and-level flight or "equilibrium" with those early unstable flying machines.

The rest of the lengthy Specification describes in detail the mechanism and workings of its pendulum, pulleys, spring hinges, electro-magnets, electro-motors, switch boxes, conductors, spindles and wind vanes or pennons.

On January 27, 1910 the British Patent Office accepted application 9805 registered on April 26, 1909 from "John Galea, lawyer, residing at 53, Strada Brittannica, Valletta, Malta" for, "automatic balancing apparatus for aerial machines and vessels and the like".

On May 13, 1910 he followed up with application 11894 for a "Patent of Addition, containing considerable improvements".

In the absence of any flying machines in Malta it was not possible for John Galea to test his "balancing apparatus". However, in May 1910 he offered his invention to the War Office in London. The Director of Artillery was responsible for balloons and aerial machines and his reply letter provides cause for amusement wherein he states: "I am directed to acquaint you that the terms which you would consider suitable for the use of the invention are noted, though considered too high".

Of course, Sperry's harnessing of the gyroscope was a sounder mechanism than using a pendulum and his company became the leading manufacturer of autopilots.

John Galea was just 36 when he was struck down by the Spanish flu pandemic in 1919. He would have been pleased that his great-nephew also shared his early fascination with flying machines.

Dr Galea's patents and technical drawings are on permanent loan to the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation.