Lloyd E. Frisbee was an aeronautical engineer during the mid-20th century. Throughout this time period in Frisbee’s life, he was employed with the Boeing Company, the Northrop Aircraft Corporation, and lastly the Lockheed Company.

Lloyd Eugene Frisbee was born on January 2, 1917, in Great Falls, Montana to Hazel Sherburne Frisbee and Clarence Frisbee. He attended high school in Cut Bank, Montana. From 1935 to 1937, Frisbee worked towards a liberal arts degree while he was attending Pasadena City College, California. During this time, he also attended the Julliard School of Music in New York, New York for one year due to his interest in becoming a violinist.

Frisbee later moved back to Montana to attend Montana State University from 1937 to 1939 where he studied engineering physics. In 1940, Frisbee obtained his pilot instruction from Civilian Pilot Training. In the same year, Frisbee was admitted into the University of Washington, Seattle. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. In addition to his studies in engineering, Frisbee completed an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, Boston in 1965.

While still attending classes in Seattle, Frisbee became employed with the Boeing Company’s Flight Test Division. He remained with the company from 1940 to 1945. He initially took a position as an Inspector on the final assembly line checking out operational systems of B-17 aircraft prior to roll-out for production flight. Later, Frisbee was promoted to Flight Test Engineer, and later as an Aerodynamicist in the Flight Research Aerodynamics Division, where he worked on the two XB-29 prototypes.

After the end of World War II, Frisbee took on a position with the Northrop Aircraft Company in Los Angeles, California. Frisbee progressed from a Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to Assistant Chief of Experimental Flight Test. During this period in his career, he helped formalize a Flight Test Organization for the Company. He also participated in the development of the Northrop XB-35, Northrop F-89 Scorpion, XB-49 “Flying Wing” bombers.

Frisbee left Northrop Aircraft Company in 1953 when the Lockheed Company approached him with an offer to help establish an Engineering Flight Test Division for their new airplane division at Marietta, Georgia. In 1956, he was promoted to Chief Research and Development Engineer and in 1965 named Chief Engineer for the Lockheed Georgia Company. During this time, he participated in the development of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, and Lockheed C-5A Galaxy transports. In 1969, Frisbee took on a position as Vice President and Director of the Commercial Engineering Brach with Lockheed-California Company. He was directly responsible for organizing and developing the L-1011 TriStar commercial jetliner. He oversaw all engineering research and testing activities. Frisbee retired from the Lockheed Company in 1979.

After retirement, Frisbee continued as a consultant to the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and served on the FAA Air Transport Certification Review Committee of the National Academy.

Frisbee was nominated by Trans World Airlines for the National Medal of Science in 1977. In 1991 the University of Washington honored him with the presentation of an Engineering Alumnus Achievement Award.

Throughout Frisbee’s life he maintained a variety of interests and hobbies. Starting in his teen years to adulthood Frisbee participated in pole vaulting, water skiing, and diving. He was a lifelong amateur classical violinist, as well as an avid freshwater boatsman and fisherman.

Frisbee married Gertrude Marguerite Anderson in Seattle, Washington on July 9, 1940. The couple had three children together.

Llyod E. Frisbee passed away in Spokane, Washington on April 1, 2012.