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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]

EMIL M. (MATTY) LAIRD
Early Chicago Plane Builder - Pilot - Manufacturer

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Emil M. Laird was born in Chicago, Illinois November 29th, 1895. While working as an office boy in the First National Bank of Chicago during the summer of 1910 Laird saw his first [[strikethrough]]flying[[/strikethrough]] airplane when Wright aviator Walter Brookins made some flights at Grant Park on September 27th and 28th. He also saw Brookins and Wilbur Wright making preparations for a the celebrated flight from Chicago to Springfield on September 29th. During the excitement of these events Laird firmly decided to learn to fly [[strikethrough]]somehow[[/strikethrough]] and from that time the search for aeronautical knowledge was foremost in his mind. 

From news photos and what he had memorized during his visits to see Brookins Wright plane Laird proceeded to make a small model of it. When this was completed he built a set of biplane wings patterned after the Wright plane and attached them to his bicycle during the late fall of 1910. With this winged cycle he was able to make some brief hops by pedaling down the street as fast as possible and jumping off an inclined ramp. One day Charles Arens happened to pass Laird's home as he was working on this glider and a close friendship, which was to last throughout their lifetimes was started. 

About this time Laird joined the newly formed Illinois Model Aero Club

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Transcription Notes:
reopened to insert [[strikethrough]] words that were missed.