Charles W. Morris; Invented Pressurized Airplane Cabin

Charles William Morris, an aerospace and automotive engineer who invented the pressurized airplane cabin, died Thursday in Agoura Hills. He was 87.

Educated at New York University’s Guggenheim School of Aviation, Morris designed the cabin and developed the turbocharged engine for the B-17 aircraft as an engineer for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. Morris later worked as chief of research and development for Garrett AirResearch and as vice president of Doak Aircraft in Torrance. He was the founding president of the Society of Aeronautical Engineers.

The holder of several patents, Morris invented such diverse items as the original airplane amusement ride, the first airplane kit and a key smog control device for California cars.

In his retirement, Morris wrote a history of his family and his father’s role in the Army’s Selective Service system.