Founded in 1958 by visionary inventor Bill Lear, Marconi Astronics is now part of the Marconi North America family of companies and is a recognized world leader and pioneer in the design and production of sophisticated automatic flight control and avionics systems for military and commercial aircraft.

While the company is continually broadening its scope of operation it also is focused on retaining the intimate, creative spirit with which it was founded.

Over the years, Marconi Astronics has developed unmatched experience in producing flight-proven control systems and leads the free world in producing military electronic flight control systems.

The unique character of the company, which can be described as both experienced yet innovative, comes from the combination of industry veterans and imaginative young engineers. Projects benefit from infusing new ways of thinking with years of experience.

The following is a list of innovative Marconi Astronics firsts:

• First production autopilot for jet aircraft (F-84) (Collier Award)
• First jet fighter autopilot coupled to ILS (F-86)
• First jet transport autopilot (KC-135)
• First solid-state flight control system (F-104)
• First flight control system with automatic landing for commercial aircraft (Caravelle)
• First command Augmentation System with control stick steering (F-8)
• First redundant flight control system (A-7)
• First FAA certified Category III (zero-zero weather conditions) flight control system with automatic landing (L-1011)
• First production Fly By Wire (FBW) digital flight control computer system (F-16)
• First microprocessor-based digital FBW flight control system (F-16)
• First digital flight control system programmed with Ada (F-15 ABICS)
• First production 1750A microprocessor-based flight control system (F-15E)
• First commercial FBW actuator control electronics (Boeing 777)
• First mini-UAV fielded by the U.S. Army
• First parafoil landing system for mini-UAVs
• First multifunction fielded ground support unit (AGOU).