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48

OSCAR A. BRINDLEY
Early Wright Instructor - Exhibition and Test Pilot

Oscar A. Brindley was born at Albany, Ohio, November 21, 1888. Mechanically inclined, his first employment after he finished school was at the Nelsonville Foundry and Machine Company in neighboring Nelsonville, Ohio. Brindley remained there for a time then moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked as a machinist with the R.E. Jeffery Machine Company. During this time his interest turned to automobiles and he became an ardent motoring fan, and through his natural mechanical ability, quite an expert on automobile engines. 

During 1910 Brindley's interests broadened to aviation following the progressive developments of the Wright brothers at Dayton and Phil Parmelee's flight from Dayton to Columbus on November 7th carrying two bolts of silk yard goods consigned to a local department store, the first instance of air express. As a result of his growing interest in flying, Brindley joined the 1911 spring class at the Wright School, Simms Station, Dayton, Ohio. He started his instruction there on March 11th and soloed on May 15th. Lieutenant John Rodgers, U.S.N., Leonard W. Bonney, Calbraith Rodgers, Louis Mitchell and Andrew Drew were also in this class. The instructors at that time were Al Welsh, Cliff Turpin and Frank Coffyn.

After completing his instruction, Brindley was made a member of the Wright Exhibition Team and filled his first public exhibition date on May 29th and 30th with Cliff Turpin at Charter Oak Park, Hartford, Connecticut. On July 7th he flew at Corpus Christi, Texas, before a large crowd. Reportedly, he also made some flights at the Coney Island Amusement Park, Cincinnati, Ohio, during July. Between engagements he continued his practice at Dayton and on August 3, 1911, obtained pilot license No. 46 flying one of the Wright airplanes used at the school.

Following this, Brindley became one of the Wright Company team of aviators