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fly, became an instructor, a chief test pilot, and now was a member of the firm, certainly a creditable achievement. During 1912 Johnson also assisted in training Earl Fritts, Glen M. Tait and Arthur Blasiar. That Fall Ralph M. Brown became assistant instructor and Johnson started the winter school to again train from the ice on Lake Salubria.
   Johnson started the 1913 exhibition season at a Flying Carnival held by the Aeronautical Society of New York May 30th to June 1st on Staten Island.  Also flying in the event were H.B. Brown, C.M., Wood and Cecil Peoli.  Late in 1912 the Thomas Brothers had started development of a flying boat and this work was resumed in the spring of 1913.  This resulted in their entering a plane to be flown by Johnson in the AERO & HYRDO Great Lakes Flying Boat Cruise from Chicago to Detroit, staring July 8th.  This race, which followed the shore lines of the Great Lakes, via the Strai[[strikethrough]]gh[[/strikethrough]]ts of Mackinac, was easily the most notable competitive flying event of that year.
   Thomas Brothers entered a new [[strikethrough]]machine[[/strikethrough]]flying boat especially designed for the contest, with the first all-metal hull ever fitted with wings.  This plane, equipped with a 65-70 [[strikethrough]]H.P.[[/strikethrough]]hp., 6 cyl. Kirkham engine, received its first flight tests on June 19th at Lake Conesus.  Additional testing followed, carried out by Johnson and Fred Eels, after which it was shipped to Chicago where it arrived about July 1st.  Also entered in this event were Tony Jannus in  a Benoist, Beckwith Havens in a Curtiss, Glenn Martin in a Martin, and Roy Francis in a Paterson-Francis.  Each pilot was to carry a co-pilot who would also act as mechanic,[[strikethrough]]and[[/strikethrough]]Johnson selected Earl Beers as his [[strikethrough]]A[[/strikethrough]]assistant for this event.
   One of the worst storms in many years in the Chicago area almost put an end to the entire event on the afternoon of the starting day.  Jannus was first to start at 12:44, followed closely by Havens.  Johnson was unable to get off with his passenger because his engine developed magneto trouble, and he delayed his start in an effort to correct [[strikethrough]] the trouble[[/strikethrough]]it.
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