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May, 1911  AVIATION 9
QUALIFIES FOR AVIATOR'S LICENSE

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One of the most promising aviators added to the licensed list of the Aero Club of America in a long time is C. C. Witmer, who recently qualified at San Diego in a test arranged according to the rules and witnessed by accredited representatives of the Aero Club of San Diego.

The trial was only perfunctory as Witmer had previously shown in exhibition work that he was fully qualified to receive his license on the strength of the rules imposed by the International governing body. The young man shows qualities of becoming a second Ely.

While unassuming, Witmer is self-reliant and well-poised and in the air shows a skill and courage which early manifested themselves to his instructor. Curtiss has been fortunate in securing competent men for his aviators, and when a man is added to his team,
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the Aero Club officials may be sure he is made of the right stuff, and but for the formalities might accept him as a qualified aviator.

Witmer's trial took place Wednesday afternoon, April 19, and was witnessed by a number of army officers and friends of the bird-man. L. P. Barrett, first vice-president of the Aero Club of California, and Frank T. Searight, member of the Aero Club of California and director of the Aero Club of San Diego, officially conducted the test under direction of President H. LaV. Twinning of the Aero Club of California, by authority of the Aero Club of America.

The aviator used a sixty horse-power Curtiss biplane and flew in a fifteen-mile-an-hour wind. The official report made to President Twinning includes the following:

"Mr. Witmer made two circles of the course, about three miles each, landing
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[[image - black and white photograph of biplane flying over battleship]]
Witmer in Flight at San Diego, Cal. Battleship Maryland in the Background
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