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FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE

FRANK T. COFFYN
Early Wright Exhibition Pilot - Instructor 

Frank T. Coffyn was born in Charleston, South Carolina, October 24, 1879, son of a well know eastern banker. He was educated in the public schools of Washington, D.C. and graduated from Central High School there in 1898. 

Coffyn was interested in aviation form the first published accounts of the Wright Brothers flying developments, but did not give the matter any consideration until he saw the early flight of Wilbur Wright and Glenn Curtiss in the vicinity of New York in 1909. Then he really caught this bug and resolved he wanted to learn to fly. At this time Coffyn was in New York in the railroad business. 

His father, George M. Coffyn, was Vice President of the Phoenix National Bank of New York, and one of the directors of the bank, Andrew Freedman, was also a director of the newly formed [[Wright?]] Aeroplane Company. Through his father Coffyn was introduced to Freedman and boldly asked if he could arrange an interview with the Wrights the next time they were in New York. A short time later Coffyn got his wish and met Wilbur Wright in Freedman's office. Coffyn asked permission to learn to fly and Mr. Wright replied, "we will have you come out to Dayton about the middle of May, 1910, and had his first ride with Orville Wright on May 19th.