Viewing page 11 of 14

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

106
[[circled]]17[[/circled]]

ALBERT ELTON
Early Wright Pilot

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, August 9, 1886, Albert Elton became interested in automobiles and later was the Cadillac dealer there. 

Becoming interested in aviation in May, 1911, he enrolled as a student at the Wright School at Simms Station, Dayton, Ohio in August, with A.L. Welsh as his instructor. While training he ordered a Wright Model B plane, which was ready by the time he finished his course. 

Elton then wanted to fly the plane home and induced Welsh to go with him. On September 3rd they flew to Columbus, a distance of 70 miles; September 4th to Trinway, Ohio, making stops at Pickerington, Newark, and Wakatomica; they reached Youngstown September 5 after stopping at Canton and Salem. The total distance for the trip was 244 miles, which was the first long distance two-man flight in the United States. 

On September 9th, Elton flew an exhibition engagement at Ashtabula, Ohio, making a 22-minute flight over the city and vicinity. About October 1st he went to St. Louis, Missouri, to enter a small local meet at Kinloch Field to be held October 14th to the 21st. He had not flown for his license up to this time, so while there, on October 8, 1911, he obtained Certificate No. 75.
 
Walter Brookins was flying at Kinloch at that time and Elton took some additional instructions from him. On October 7th he started booking exhibitions through the [[underlined]]Aero[[underlined]] magazine pilots' advertising section. He did some flying at St. Louis during the meet and made one flight over St. Louis. He remained there through October, continuing his practice under Brookins' observation. Following this he flew a few more exhibitions late in the fall season. 

Transcription Notes:
some extraneous checkmarks and notes to transcribe in