Viewing page 7 of 21

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Tractor Biplane, built to meet U.S. Army requirements. This had a span of 39 ft., seated 3, had a tricycle landing gear and [[crossed-out]] used [[/crossed-out]] was powered by an 8 cyl. Hall-Scott engine. It was entered in the U.S. Army [[crossed-out]] trials [[/crossed-out]] military aircraft competition at San Diego, where it was taken for tests. As part of these tests, Silas flew it from San Diego to Los Angeles on September 26th, carrying Lt. Joseph Morrow and his mechanic as passengers. On October 21st the Government called off the tests and abandoned the competition. During the winter months of 1914-1915, [[crossed-out]] Silas [[/crossed-out]] the brothers and Bob Fowler successfully [[crossed-out]] were operating [[/crossed-out]] operated passenger carrying flying boats at the Panama-Pacific Exposition waterfront. [[crossed-out]] carrying passengers. [[/crossed-out]] 

In May, 1915, Christofferson's business partner, Lansing Tevis, went to Mexico to sell an aeroplane to the Carranza government, and returned with an order which kept the  factory busy for some time. In June, the new Sturtevant-[[crossed-out]] motored [[/crossed-out]] powered Christofferson tractor was announced. It was a biplane of 47 ft. span, with tricycle landing gear, [[crossed-out]] and [[/crossed-out]] seated 3 people, & was designed to be assembled and disassembled, [[crossed-out]] the quickest of [[/crossed-out]] quicker than any plane ever built. At this time the company had a tremendous passenger business and their flying school was growing rapidly. In August the factory was moved to Oakland, California to get more room for expansion. They were also starting to build an engine. In September, another new flying boat was brought out, with 49 ft. span, a capacity of 3 passengers, and using either a Curtiss or Hall-Scott engine mounted between the wings, with direct propeller. In October, a special plane was built for Charles Niles, the well known exhibition flier, and about this time Lansing K. Travis joined the company. In November [[crossed-out]] their [[/crossed-out]] the new engine was ready for the first tests. Harry Christofferson had established a flying and passenger carrying service at Long Beach, California for the winter months of 1915-1916. In December the new Christofferson engine was formally announced, a 6 cyl. in-line, water-cooled [[crossed-out]] job [[/crossed-out]] unit, developing 120 [[crossed-out]] H.P. [[/crossed-out]] hp at 1400 R.P.M. and weighing 460 [[crossed-out]] lbs. [[/crossed-out]] pounds. 

In January, 1916 the school also moved to Oakland, and hangars were built to house several planes. In April, [[crossed-out]] 1916 [[/crossed-out]] their motor passed the official tests and was fully described in the aviation magazines. It was a very creditable design for its time, and one showing excellent engineering and good sound mechanical judgement. In May, 1916 The Christofferson Motor Co. was formed, the incorporators being Lansing K. Travis and W.S. Bacon. The new company acquired the engine interests of the Christofferson Aircraft Mfg. Co. and retained Silas as head of Engineering. A 12 cyl. 250 H.P. engine was also pro-

[[Left Margin]]

End # 1 Copy

FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE