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St. Louis. As part of the Fair's attraction, balloon and dirigible events were sponsored with prizes offered for the most successful flights.

On August 27,1903, Knabenshue participated in the free balloon races. Also, in 1904, he was operating a captive balloon concession at the fair. It was here that he met Baldwin and formed a lasting friendship.

Baldwin of course had learned of the Fair's scheduled aeronautical events for 1904 and entered his "California Arrow" in the events even before it was completed. When it was completed, he shipped it to St. Louis and prepared if for the historic event. In October, 1904, Baldwin's dirigible was ready to fly, but Baldwin had put on so much weight (He weighed 230 pounds.) that the lifting power of the dirigible was taxed to the utmost. In fact, it wouldn't lift him off the ground. Not wanting to jeopardize his chances of winning the prize money, Baldwin engaged young Knabenshue to fly the dirgible around a three-mile course at the Fair. On October 25, with Knabenshue at the controls, the "California Arrow" carried away about all the prize money.

Knabenshue, in later years, said his first flight was an accident. "The dirigible catwalk frame was set on two saw horses to keep the propeller off the ground and start the motor.

"The motor was missing and shaking the frame so much I thought it was going to bounce me off. I yelled 'Turn it off,' but they thought I said 'Let 'er go,' and began waving their hats. Then I was in the air and heading for a 30-foot fence. Some of the people who