Aero Club of America

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Aviation Medal of Merit issued by Aero Club of America, given to 33 military aviators who served in Britain and France during WWI. Aero Club of America Aviation Medal of Merit.jpg
Aviation Medal of Merit issued by Aero Club of America, given to 33 military aviators who served in Britain and France during WWI.

The Aero Club of America was a social club formed in 1905 by Charles Jasper Glidden and Augustus Post, among others, to promote aviation in America. It was the parent organization of numerous state chapters, the first being the Aero Club of New England. It thrived until 1923, when it transformed into the National Aeronautic Association, which still exists today. It issued the first pilot's licenses in the United States, and successful completion of its licensing process was required by the United States Army for its pilots until 1914. It sponsored numerous air shows and contests. Cortlandt Field Bishop was president in 1910. Starting in 1911, new president Robert J. Collier began presenting the Collier Trophy.

Contents

History

Augustus Post, Bud Mars and his wife, Glenn Curtis and Lena Curtiss, Thomas Scott Baldwin, and Judge Wheeler at air show in Pittsburgh - 1910. Aviators with their wives in Pittsburgh 1909.png
Augustus Post, Bud Mars and his wife, Glenn Curtis and Lena Curtiss, Thomas Scott Baldwin, and Judge Wheeler at air show in Pittsburgh – 1910.

Although conventional wisdom states that the Aero Club began in 1905, there are photos of high society and adventurers printed in 1902 with the stamp, "Aero Club". In the summer of 1905 several members of the Automobile Club of America including Charles Glidden, Homer Hedge, Dave Morris, John F. O'Rourke, and Augustus Post founded the Aero Club of America. They were avid balloonists but found little support in America for the sport of aviation. They determined to establish a new club with an organization similar to the Automobile Club but whose purpose was to promote aviation, much like the Aero Club of France. [1] Homer Hedge became the first President and Augustus Post the first secretary.

In 1910, three different conventions were held in New York among aeronautical clubs and societies. The National Council of Affiliated Clubs of the Aero Club of America, was formed. Thirty-nine delegates, representing constituencies from Pasadena, California, to Boston, met at the Aero Club and formed the parent organization of various state chapters. [2]

Photo composite of the 1910 event sponsored by the Aero Club of America "Crowd watching seven planes in air at the International Aviation Meet at Belmont Park, New York". BelmontParkAirShow.jpg
Photo composite of the 1910 event sponsored by the Aero Club of America
"Crowd watching seven planes in air at the International Aviation Meet at Belmont Park, New York".

At the International Aviation Meet at Belmont Park in October 1910, a considerable controversy arose between the Englishman Claude Graham-White and the American J. B. Moisant. In one race around the Statue of Liberty, Graham-White won by several minutes, but due to a technicality, the race and considerable prize money was awarded to Moisant. John Armstrong Drexel made public statements accusing the organization of favoritism toward its own members, and Drexel held a competing dinner banquet at the same time as the awards banquet of the organization. The schism among the membership threatened the integrity of the organization, but was ultimately resolved with Drexel's resignation. [4]

In 1911, the Aero Club of New York put on the First Industrial Airplane Show that was held in conjunction with the 11th U.S. International Auto Show at Manhattan's Grand Central Palace, in New York City. It was a spectacular event with prominent speakers, and an enthusiastic large crowd that would gaze upon a full-size airplane for the first time. It started December 31, 1910, until mid-January 1911. [5]

In 1919, the secretary of the club, Augustus Post organized and drew up the rules for a transatlantic flight competition between New York and Paris. He worked with wealthy hotel owner Raymond Orteig in securing the $25,000 for the Orteig Prize. The $25,000 prize was to be awarded "to the first aviator of any Allied Country crossing the Atlantic in one flight, from Paris to New York or New York to Paris". [6] After five years of failing to attract competitors, the award was then put under the control of a seven-member Bryant Bank board of trustees, which awarded it to Charles Lindbergh for his successful 1927 flight in the Spirit of St. Louis . [6]

Historical notes

Glenn H. Curtiss's pilot license # 1 June 18th 1911. Glenn Curtiss's pilot license.jpg
Glenn H. Curtiss's pilot license # 1 June 18th 1911.

Some of the later licenses issued by the Aero Club of America bore the printed signature of Orville Wright. Wright served for a time as Chairman of the Aero Club of America's Contest Committee. Contrary to popular myth, the Wright brothers were not issued licenses number 4 and 5 for malicious reasons. They were simply among the five pilots who had, in America, demonstrated their ability to fly airplanes before the Aero Club of America's licensing program began. Those first five licenses were issued in alphabetical order — a practice followed by other national organizations belonging to the FAI.

Pilot's licenses were not required by law (except by some states) until well after World War I. Aero Club of America licenses were required for participation in sporting events and demonstrations sanctioned by the ACA and FAI, and they gave credibility to pilots seeking to perform demonstration flights for hire, but many American pilots never applied for a license, which required a demonstration of flight proficiency. The ACA was also notorious for the inflexibility of its licensing process, which prescribed, among other items, a letter of application, a photograph of a candidate, appointment of an ACA examiner, and his report of examination, all of which had to be submitted in the correct form and sequence for a license to be issued, whether the candidate passed the flight test or not.

National Aeroplane Fund

The National Aeroplane Fund was sanctioned by the Aero Club of America in response to perceived military and political disinterest in aeronautics. Established in summer 1915, the group lobbied Congress to increase funding for military aeronautics. The purpose of The American National Aeroplane Fund was to train aviators, provide aviation corps for the National Guard and Navy Militia of the States and U.S. Possessions, and put aeroplanes in use for the mail carrying service to inaccessible places, forming an aeronautical reserve, which while being used daily for peaceful purposes shall be ready for military service in case of need.

The National Aero Fund Letter, July 29, 1915 [7] was written to Capt. Leroy Hall of the Vermont National Guard by Alan Hawley, President of the National Aeroplane Fund. It describes the various aeronautical demonstrations planned for the Vermont National Guard in August 1915. The National Aero Fund provided the airplane and pilot for the experiment, early bird aviator George A. Gray.

The letterhead contained the following information:

The U.S. Army and Navy have, together, less than twenty planes available. Only half a dozen of the licensed aviators of the United States have made flights of more than fifty miles, and none even know the rudiments of aeronautical requirements. Our Army, Navy, National Guard and Navy militia have had no experience in handling aircraft or operating with them.

If England, with 1,500 aeroplanes and aviators and the output of sixteen thousand men cannot supply sufficient aeroplanes for its forces - what could Uncle Sam - who has less than a score of aeroplanes - do in case of immediate need?

To provide an aeronautical reserve, the Governors of the Auto Club of America have started a public aeronautical subscription, similar to the French and German subscriptions of 1912-1913. These netted $1,222,969 and $1,808,626 respectively, and were used to train aviators and to procure aeroplanes. As the New York Sun says editorially, "Surely we in America, with our greater resources, can do even better."

French and German Air Fleet Built by Public Interest

The French and German aeroplane fleets of to-day were built largely by public subscriptions and through public interest. In February, 1912, soon after the first employment of aeroplanes in the French military manoeuvres demonstrated the potentiality of the ajr service, but the French Govemment failed to allow the appropriations necessary to secure an adequate aeronautical organization for the French Army, a public subscription was started.

In every part of France, the people-men and women, rich and poor, young and old, and of all beliefs and factions-united their efforts with the Press and political, social, professional and sportive organizations, and all contributed their share to give France a large aerial fleet. This public subscription brought 6,114,846 francs and gave France 208 aeroplanes, 62 landing stations for aeroplanes and 75 trained aviators. The public interest created by the subscription was tremendous and led to the immediate consideration of the aeronautical needs of France by the Government. By April, 1914, the French Army possessed 1,200 aeroplanes and 28 dirigibles, and most complete and efficient equipment.

Germany's aeroplane fleet was built almost entirely by the public subscription started by the Aerial League of Germany in 1912 which brought 7,234,506 marks. The purpose of the League was to train within the shortest time as large a number as possible of aviation pilots to form a reserve and to encourage the general development of aviation in Germany. Following are some of the results obtained;

The number of pilots was 230 at the end of 1912; it increased to 600 by the end of 1913; the constructors of aeroplanes were less than 20 in 1912, they increased to 50 by the end of 1913. The developments due to the efforts of the Aerial League led to Reichstag to pass a plan providing for an expenditure of $35,000,000 for military aeronautics in the following five years.

During the first month of 1914 the inducements offered by the Aerial League of Germany led to the breaking, by German aviators, of all the world records. By the middle of July, the non-stop endurance record was carried up to 24 hours and 12 minutes, by Reinhold Boehm, and the altitude record to 26,246 feet, by Heinrich Oelrich. Over one hundred other records, similar to the above were made. For instance, Basser and Landsmann made continuous flights of 18 hours 11 minutes and 21 hours 49 minutes respectively, in one of which Landsmann covered 1,336 miles, which is the longest distance ever traveled by man in one day. Among the records for altitude was the record of Otto Linnekogel of 21,654 feet- which is about the height of Mount McKinley!

Just as the people in every part of France and Germany-men and women, rich and poor, young and old, and of all beliefs and factions, united their efforts with the Press and political, social, professional and sporting organizations-we here in America can do the same.

Notable licensees

Some notable early pilots issued licenses by the Aero Club of America are listed below. [8]

Airplane division

Venus symbol.svg denotes a female aviator

Seaplane (Hydroaeroplane) division

Balloon division

Lahm McCoy Fulton.png

See who's who of ballooning. [15]

Airship (Dirigible) division

Note: "Dirigible" simply meant that the airship could be made to go in any direction.

Presidents

See also

Other Aero clubs

Related Research Articles

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Albert C. Triaca was an Italian balloonist, pioneer aviator, and businessman.

The First Industrial Aeroplane Show, an industrial show, of exhibited full-size airplanes, opened on New Year's Eve 1910 as part of the 11th U.S. International Auto Show at the Grand Central Palace in New York City. The aviation show was organised by the Aero Club of New York. There was much media attention, and local newspapers such as the New York Times and The Brooklyn Daily Eagle covered it for many days. The New York Times reported on January 2, 1911 that "All Palace attendance records were smashed Saturday when over 15,000 persons passed through the doors." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that many spectators bypassed the cars to look at the airplanes. Major General Frederick Dent Grant, USA Department Commander of the East, was one of the main speakers. General Grant attended with three of his aides—Colonel Stephen Mills, General Staff; Captain C.W. Fenton, Second Cavalry; and Marion W. Howze, First Field Artillery. The speakers discussed at the airplane show the possible use of planes for wars, and that the U.S. government should provide funding for airplane research and development. It may have been the first public speech by the military regarding the use of early military aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Aeronautical Reserve</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augustus Post</span> American adventurer

Augustus Thomas Post Jr. was an American adventurer who distinguished himself as an automotive pioneer, balloonist, early aviator, writer, actor, musician and lecturer. Post pursued an interest in transportation of every form. In 1898, when Post was 25, following his time at Harvard Law School, he circumnavigated the globe by rail and steamship. He then bought one of the earlier made automobiles, crafted by Charles Duryea, and helped found the Glidden Auto Tours, an automotive distance drive and competition used to promote a national highway system. He was the original founder, in 1902, of what is now the American Automobile Association (AAA), first known as the Auto Club of America. He established the nation's first parking garage, the first bus service, and also received the first driving ticket in New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Aviation Meet at Belmont Park</span> Aviation contests held in Elmont, New York

The Belmont Park aviation meet was an international air show that took place in 1910. The Belmont Racetrack in Elmont, New York, United States, was the site of the aviation meet. The event took place over nine days and featured aerial races, and contests involving duration, distance, speed and altitude.

References

  1. ↑ Charles H. Heitman (January 12, 1910). "Growth of Aviation Due to Aero Club. Under the Presidency of Cortlandt Field Bishop the Organization Has Built Up the Sport" (PDF). The New York Times . For many years prior to the organization of the Aero Club of America the science of aerial navigation had ...
  2. ↑ "National aero body formed after fight" (PDF). The New York Times. New York. 23 June 1910.
  3. ↑ "Crowd watching seven planes in air at Belmont Park air show, New York". Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. Library of Congress, USA.gov. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Says aviators closed meet" (PDF). The New York Times. New York. 3 November 1910.
  5. ↑ "The New York Show," AERO, Vol. 1., page 18, January 7, 1911 (1911 Aero Publication Company, St. Louis).
  6. 1 2 Bak, Richard (2011). The Big Jump – Lindbergh and the Great Atlantic Air Race . Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. pp.  29, 41. ISBN   978-0-471-47752-5.
  7. ↑ "National Aeroplane Fund". www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. February 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Robie, Bill (1991). For the Greatest Achievement. Washington, D.C., and London: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  9. ↑ "McHenry Countian Was An Air Pioneer". Chicago Tribune . November 27, 1994. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  10. ↑ Who's Who in American Aeronautics, 1922
  11. 1 2 "Stinson Field, Mission Parkway--Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary". Archived from the original on 2006-10-13. Retrieved 2006-10-13.
  12. ↑ "Albert D. Smith" . Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  13. ↑ Cross & Cockade, Volume 6, p. 55.
  14. ↑ "Adolph Sutro Gives Up Flying". The New York Times . December 4, 1913. Retrieved 2012-09-17. Adolph G. Sutro, who is a grandson of former Mayor of San Franclsco, and who holds the first hydro-aeroplane license issued in this country by the Aero Club of ...
  15. ↑ Rechs, Robert. "Who's who of ballooning" . Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  16. ↑ Major James C. McCoy. Aero Club of America. 1918. p. 1138.
  17. ↑ "Brother Dies in Florida". Ludington Daily News . September 17, 1948. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  18. ↑ "Dirigible Expert Dead. Ralph Preston Developed and Raced Lighter-Than-Air Craft". The New York Times . May 17, 1954. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
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