Born in Cimarron, Kansas, Blanton learned to fly from his father. During World War II, he was a co-pilot Venturas and Liberators for the United States Navy. He earned an aeronautical engineering degree in 1947 from the Lincoln Aviation Institute. He founded the Javelin Aircraft Company, in Augusta, Kansas. Javelin pioneered the development of small aircraft auto-pilot systems. Javelin  produced over 3,000 auxiliary fuel systems, and has manufactured and installed over 400 long range fuel systems. Blanton’s engineering designs were used in six around-the-world flights and have helped to set several world records. He designed and sold home-built plans for the “Wichawk,” the only side-by-side seating bi-plane in existence.