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as their first pilot. It was a new and untried machine, using a Kirkham automobile engine, and Johnson had to teach himself to fly, so he started the usual grass cutting practice on the Page farm near North Hornell. Fortunately it was so underpowered it would barely take off when it hit a slight rise in the ground then settle back to the ground. This practice continued through August and in this way Johnson learned to handle the plane on the ground and control it during these short hops. By the end of August he had souped up the engine enough that he had sufficient power for sustained flight. As a result Johnson made his first real flight, and a circle, there on September 7th, 1910, his 21st birthday. 

During September the Thomas Brothers were continually changing and developing this plane and Johnson was gradually making more extended flights. In October they accepted an invitation to fly exhibitions at a Fair, held at Stow Park, Binghamton, New York. Johnson made his first public exhibition flights there on October 10th and 11th, 1910. He had a minor smashup when he stuck one the tents on a take-off, but was not injured. 

About this time the Thomas Brother moved their operations from Hornell to Bath, New York, as the Kirkham engine was made there. Following their exhibition engagement at Binghamton they arranged to make flights at the Brooms County Fair in Rochester, New York. Since this was Johnson's home town he wanted to make a flight over the city but did not succeed in doing so. However, he did make a number of successful flights from Genesee Valley Park for the Fair. After this engagement they returned to Bath where the plane was rebuilt into a Headless Type, and a new Kirkham engine was installed, following which test flying was resumed. In December Johnson began flying from the ice on nearby Lake Salubria with runners on the plane. 

Tests continued through the winter months and on March 6th, 1911 Johnson took a local young lady, Miss Florence Scrafford, for two flights 

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