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

ALYS McKAY BRYANT
Early West Coast Aviatrix

[[image: black and white photograph of Alys McKey]]

Alys McKey Bryant was born on a farm in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, April 28, 1880. Information is lacking concerning her early life and education, but loving action and excitement she learned to drive automobiles and ride 
motorcycles.

At some point she moved to California where in late 1912
she began learning to fly with the Bennett Aero Company at The
Palms, California. Fred A. Bennett was an exhibition flight
promotor and had well-known west coast plane builder and aviator Frank Bryand and his brother working for him. The Bryant brothers had built two Curtiss-type biplanes powered by Hall-Scott engines, and they called themselves "The Bennett Flyers". There Miss Alys McKay was taught to fly and signed up as one of the troupe for exhibition work, becoming the first aviatrix on the west coast.

She continued her practice and made an extended flight at Seattle, Washington on April 28th, 1913. Her first public exhibition flight was made at North Yakima, Washington on May 3d, then May 29th and 30th she flew at Boise, Idaho with Johnny Bryant for the Boise Motorcycle Club. After the event they were married there. On June 13th she flew at a Rose Carnival at Portland, Oregon, and while there carried a bundle of newpapers from the Race Trach to the Polo Field at an Army post. On July 16th to 19th Alys and the two Bryant brothers flew at Seattle's

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