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FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE

the aviation world. Among these were Emil Laird and George Weaver. They soon comprised a trio destined to make aviation history. All three had the bug to make a real aeroplane, and in 1912 Laird took the lead when he decided to build one. As a result Arens and Weaver both helped him build the first Laird Baby Biplane that really started them all in aviation. When the plane was completed both Arens and Weaver went on to assist Laird with his early flying operations and finally as helpers on his first exhibition dates.

During this period Arens also spent every available moment of his spare time at Chicago's famed Cicero Flying Field helping the pilots and mechanics in every way possible. With this experience Arens became enthused about making a plane for himself. Accordingly, in 1915 he started to build a small light weight biplane, using a 3 cyl. 35 H.P. Anzani engine. When it was finished in 1916 Arens took it to Chicago's new Ashburn Field where he received many compliments on the exceptionally fine workmanship and sound construction. There Matty Laird flight tested it, with very satisfactory results. In fact, he was so pleased with its performance he continued to enjoy flying it for some time whenever convenient. Following Laird's preliminary flight tests, in the fall of 1916 Arens, with no previous flying instruction or training, got into the plane, taxied around to get the feel of the machine and then flew it across Ashburn Field. This entitled him to later membership in the Early Birds.

Arens soon made up his mind, however, that he did not care as much for flying as he did the mechanical and development end of the business, so never bothered to get a pilot's license. By this time Arens was so completely absorbed in aviation he could muster no further interest in his job at the railroad office so in December he quit there and started to work for the L.W.F. Engineering Company at College Point, Long Island, New York, where he remained until the firm went out of business in 1923. Shortly after starting to work there in the early spring of 1917 Arens sold his Anzani-powered biplane to Horace Keane on Long Island who used it for some time as a solo ship at a local flying school.

At L.W.F. Arens had many varied assignments - main assembly, experimental and

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