Elvie Lawrence Smith (January 8, 1926, in Eatonia, Saskatchewan — August 4, 1999 in St. Lambert, Quebec)[1] was a Canadian aviation engineer known for his work with gas turbines, and for his time at Pratt & Whitney Canada.
[2] Smith attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1947, and subsequently earned a master's in that field from Purdue University.
[3] Smith began his career at the National Research Council, where he spent either five[3] or seven[4][5] years.
[7] In addition to being an aviation engineer, Smith was himself a pilot (having earned his license while at Purdue),[1] with a flight time of over 5300 hours in both powered and unpowered aircraft;[7] as well, three of his four children became commercial airline pilots.
[4] In 1985, the Royal Society of Canada awarded Smith the Thomas W. Eadie Medal.