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well forward near the engine, and the pilot at rear.

One clause in the contract had bothered Baldwin. It called for a type of gas-tight balloon fabric that would have to be imported, so he proceeded to develop a material of his own to meet the requirements. It consisted of two layers of silk cloth, cemented together by a rubber preparation, which he called "Rubberized Silk." It worked out satisfactorily and he continued to advertise and sell this material for balloons and [[/strikethrough]] aeroplane [[/strikethrough]] airplane covering for a number of years. 

The Army airship was built at Hammondsport and following several trial ascents, the [[strikethrough]] first [[/strikethrough]] official tests were begun at Fort Meyer, Virginia, on August 4th, 1908, with Baldwin at the controls and Curtiss as engineer. Tests were [[strikethrough]]continued and [[/strikethrough]] completed August 15th, and the craft formally accepted on the 22nd.

When the Herring-Curtiss Company was formed at Hammondsport early in 1909 Baldwin became one of the directors, but also continued his private airship operations. He had a ship at the St. Louis Centennial Celebration in October, and there Curtiss made brief [[strikethrough]] aeroplane [[/strikethrough]] airplane flights. Baldwin next exhibited at Hawthorne Race Track, Chicago, Illinois and Curtiss also had his [[strikethrough]] aeroplane [[/strikethrough]] airplane there.

By this time, Baldwin was [[strikethrough]]then beginning to be really [[/strikethrough]] becoming interested in the [[strikethrough]] aeroplane [[/strikethrough]] airplane as a better attraction to replace the airship, so over the winter of 1909-1910 he built his first plane at Hammondsport, assisted by Curtiss workmen. It was a 31 foot span, headless (no front elevator) tractor biplane with a large biplane tail on outriggers. Power was provided by a 4-cylinder 25 h.p. Curtiss engine [[strikethrough]] mounted low [[/strikethrough]] placed ahead of the pilot's seat driving the propeller {{?}} was mounted above by chain and sprockets. It had a two-wheel landing gear and skid under the tail surfaces. Curtiss reportedly made some brief [[strikethrough]] first [[/strikethrough]] flights with this machine and lent assistance to Baldwin in getting started. Later the plan was changed; [[strikethrough]] with [[/strikethrough]] a pusher propeller and a front elevator were added. Baldwin had this revamped plane and one of his airships at an air meet in San Antonio, Texas, April 20th to 25th where reportedly he made some brief hops, and both Curtiss and Charles Hamilton flew it. 

During the summer of 1910 Baldwin had this plane at Mineola, Long Island, New York, where he continued its development and slowly learned to fly, [[strikethrough]] then [[/strikethrough]] later in the year he built a second plane, powered by an 8-cylinder, direct-drive, Curtiss

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