Wilbur R. Franks

Wilbur Rounding Franks, OBE (4 March 1901 – 4 January 1986) was a Canadian scientist, notable as the inventor of the anti-gravity suit or G-suit, and for his work in cancer research.

When testing his first prototype, Franks stated: "The suit had been cut to fit me perfectly, standing up.

The idea became practical only when we realized that great areas of the body could be left outside the fluid system."

In 1941 fellow Canadian scientist, Dr. Sir Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin, died in a plane crash near Musgrave Harbour, Canada while on his way to England to assist Franks in the testing of the suit.

The Wilbur Rounding Franks building located at 17 Wing Winnipeg is the home of the Canadian Forces School of Survival and Aeromedical Training (CFSSAT).