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50 29

[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[stamped]]

THOMAS W. BENOIST
Pioneer American Aviator - Plane Manufacturer
[[image]]

Thomas W. Benoist was born at Ironton, Missouri, December 29, 1874, one of twelve children.  He attended local schools, then took a [[strikethrough]]B[[/strikethrough]]usiness [[strikethrough]]C[[/strikethrough]]ourse.  His main early interests were mathematics, mechanics and sports [[strikethrough]], but[[/strikethrough]] he ^[[also]] developed an early interest in flight when he studied Chanute's book "Progress in Flying Machines."

Benoist moved to St. Louis about 1900 where he soon teamed up with John Berry, a well known balloonist, who was also experimenting with dirigibles.  Benoist remained with Berry for a time but this venture was not successful. [[strikethrough]]Later[[/strikethrough]] Benoist saw Roy Knabenshue fly Baldwin's airship, and William Avery [[strikethrough]]with[[/strikethrough]] a Chanute biplane glider, at the St. Louis Exposition in October, 1904[[strikethrough]].[[/strikethrough]]  He then saw Knabenshue, Dallas and Beachey all fly airships at the St. Louis International balloon and airship competition in October, 1907.

During this time Benoist had devised a new type storage battery which proved so successful that he and his brother Charles started producing it in 1907.  He called it the "Black Jack" battery and, along with this business, they also opened an automobile supply store.

In October, 1909, Benoist saw Glenn Curtiss fly one of his early biplanes at the St. Louis Aero Club [[strikethrough]]Baloon[[/strikethrough]] ^[[Balloon]] Races and Aeronautical Tournament and became de- 

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Transcription Notes:
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