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Charles L. Fay
Early Thomas Brothers Pilot-Instructor

Charles L. Fay was born at Athol, Massachusetts, November 22, 1891. He attended local schools and during the 1911-1913 period became interested in flying. As a result in November, 1913, he joined the winter class at the Thomas Brothers Flying School at Bath, New York along with William Stewart, Bud Cory, G. Fanet, and George McNamara. Frank Burnside was their instructor and Fay soon displayed exceptional ability as a student and made his first solo flight on December 25th. 
By January he was flying well, making consistently good landings. He continued his practice and by early spring was doing test flying for the Thomas Brothers Company. In mid-April 1914, Fay was conducting the flight tests of the new Thomas monoplane with the 60-70 h.p. Maximotor engine from the ice of Lake Salubria. 
At that time he was an ardent golf fan and upon receiving an invitation from the Elmira, New York, Country Club to play, he decided to fly there to accept their hospitality. He flew to Elmira and landed on the golf links, played an afternoon game, then flew back to Bath the next morning. 
He continued flying for the Thomas Brothers Company that season, at times instructing, doing demonstration work with both land and water planes, and on occasion filling exhibition engagements. He flew a Thomas flying boat at Dunkirk, New York, September 16th to 19th, and then was flying at Cobblesville, New York, September 25th to 28th. Following other exhibition work at fairs that fall, the Thomas Brothers moved from bath to Ithaca, New York and Fay assisted with the move. 
As soon as they were reorganized, a flying field and school were established. The company brought out a new military tractor biplane and Fay assisted with the testing of this machine. He also continued instruction and demonstration flying as assistant to Frank Burnside.