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and a large letter "K" was painted on the gondola car. For many of the braver Chicagoans, it was a rare opportunity for them to get a breath-taking view of the "Windy City" and the long stretches of the shore line of Lake Michigan.

During World War I, Knabenshue built captive observation balloons for the Signal Corps. He built 25 "sausage" balloons for $6,200 each as competitor's prices of $12,500 each. "Boy, were they mad," he said.

During World War I Knabenshue also offered his balloon to the U.S. Navy, but it was not accepted, because Congress would not appropriate funds for its purchase or for the training of pilots. "Washington in those days," reflected Knabenshue in 1943, "figured that there would be no more wars after the armistice of 1918 and that aviation would be developed on peaceful, commercial lines. But look at flying today. Some day I hope we will come back to the rigid ship. The dirigible is the deluxe way of travel, although it can't compete with the clippers."

Knabenshue relates how he stopped flying at the request of President Roosevelt. "I quit flying because President Roosevelt told me I was too old and I'd better stop. He is an old friend of mine--met him while trying to sell him a dirigible when he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy."

Although his active aeronautical career ended in 1917, when he tested several airships for the Navy, Knabenshue kept dreaming about his dirigibles. In 1928 he visited Toledo, and announced plans for establishing an 80-hour dirigible service between New York and Honolulu.