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the cool intake charge to be conducted through the exhaust valve, thereby effectively cooling this troublesome engine part. Kirkham patented this design feature and it was successfully used in his aircraft engines for several years.  
The Kirkham-Eells partnership was dissolved in late January, 1911, then in February, Kirkham resigned as manager of the Bath Motor Company to devote his entire time to aviation.  In March he announced and advertised his new 6-cylinder 50 hp aviation motor, "Now available from C. B. Kirkham, Manufacturer, Bath, New York." Several plane builders began using his engines that year, and in late MAy he moved his business to nearby Savona, New York.  There Kirkham designed and started building a plane intended as a test machine for engine development work. It was a 34-foot span, fuselage-type tractor biplane, with a Wright-type landing gear, powered by his 6-cylinder 50 hp engine. This was an excellent appearing airplane and reportedly was the first tractor-type built in the United States. It was completed during that fall and apparently Kirkham did some flying with it himself at Savona until December when tests were terminated by bad weather.
During 1911 the Thomas Brothers firm built some new planes at Bath and on August 6th Walter Johnson flew one of them from Savona to Hammondsport and return, via Bath cross-country non-stop, using a Kirkham-Six engine. Also during the year Kirkham designed and developed three additional engine types which were advertised in January, 1912, as a 4-cylinder 35 hp; a 6-cylinder 70 hp, and a 12-cylinder Vee of 120 hp.
Test flights of the Kirkham tractor biplane were resumed in March, 1912, flying from the ice of the nearby Lake Salubria. Having decided to give up flying, Kirkham engaged aviator W. F. Cline to conduct these tests. Numerous successful flights were made through March and April, some of thirty minutes duration and cross-country trips of over 20 miles. During 1912 Kirkham engines became one of the leading motors used by U. S. plane builders and exhibition pilots, and his business became well established.