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FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE

GEORGE E. "EDDIE" BARNHART

Pioneer Plane Builder - Aviator - Aeronautical Engineer

[[image of George E. Barnhart]]

George E. Barnhart was born at Pasadena, California July 31, 1893, son of a forest ranger.  He attended local schools and as a boy made kites and model planes, becoming very interested in things aeronautical, to which his parents objected.  He was a hustler and to earn money he delivered papers, ran errands and did odd chores.

In the spring of 1909 Barnhart made a glider in the loft of a neighbor's barn, unknown to his parents.  When finished school chums helped him take it to some nearby slopes where he made a few short glides before wrecking it.  He then made one larger and more elaborate, with a seat, controls and bicycle wheel landing gear.  With this plane he made several quite successful gliding flights with out mishap.

After this aviation was really in his blood and he wanted to build a power machine, but knew this would take money, so, in a hurry to continue this work, he quit school after the eight grade, got a job and started to work in a woodworking shop. With his earnings he started building his first power plane. It was to be a double surfaced pusher biplane with front and rear elevators. Barnhart completed this plane, less engine, in December, 1911 and had it taken to Dominguez Aviation Field where he hoped to get an engine for it.

He was able to house the plane in a shed with planes owned by Frank Stites
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