William Kilpatrick Stewart

Air Vice Marshal William Kilpatrick Stewart, CB, CBE, AFC, QHP (28 June 1913 – 2 May 1967) was a Scottish researcher in aerospace physiology, senior consultant in physiology to the Royal Air Force, and commanding officer of the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine.

After appointments in Glasgow Western Infirmary, Stewart became MRC Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, working under Lord Adrian and Sir Bryan Matthews.

Joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939, he was appointed to the RAF Physiology Laboratory at Farnborough in 1940.

During the Second World War, Stewart conducted original research into the physiological effects of acceleration and deceleration, extreme heat and cold and decompression, and was engaged in the design of the ejector seat, G suits and oxygen systems.

Following the end of the Second World War, Stewart was instrumental in the successful establishment and operation of the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine at Farnborough, and in 1946 was appointed its commanding officer.