Carl S. Bates (January 1, 1884 – August 27, 1956) was an aviation pioneer from Clear Lake, Iowa.
[1] Bates was the first person in Iowa to fly a heavier-than-air aircraft.
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.
[2][3] In April 1909, he authored a Popular Science how-to article on hang glider construction.
In 2002 Carl S. Bates was inducted in the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame.