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8 William S. Luckey
16 Pioneer Curtiss Exhibition Pilot

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

[image] on left-hand side

Information is lacking relative to the date and place of this man's birth, education and early life, but reportedly during the early 1900's he was a manufacturer of trunks and suitcases.

In ill health and crippled by rheumatism, in 1912, at age 50, he decided to learn to fly, [[strikethrough]] deliberately [[/strikethrough]] hopefully for his health. As a result he became a student at the Curtiss Flying School, Hammondsport, New York, in the first spring class about April 1 [strikethrough]] th [[/strikethrough]] , 1913 where he was taught to fly by Francis "Doc" Wildman. He was one of a large class and was flying well by mid-May.

Luckey joined the Curtiss Exhibition Flyers later that month and flew his first public exhibition date at Hershey, Pennsylvania, on May 30th. From there he flew with R.V. Morris and Charles Niles at Kingston, Ontario, [[strikethrough]] Canada [[/strikethrough]] on June 3rd. Following this all three men remained in Canada filling dates until after July 4th. Later that month Luckey flew a hydro at Charleston, [[strikethrough]] North [[/strikethrough]] South Carolina, for an extended engagement at a resort, then at the conclusion of the contract he changed his plane to land gear and remained at the Isle of Palms for another week.

On October 13th Luckey won the $2,500 [[strikethrough]] .00 [[/strikethrough]] New York Times Round-Manhattan Race in competition with Charles Niles, C. N. Wood, Tony Jannus, and J. G. Gilpatric. The 57-mile event started from Staten Island, the across New York Bay to the East River, up the east side of Manhattan, [[strikethrough]] through [[/strikethrough]] over the Harlem River to the Hudson, then

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Transcription Notes:
Image is of pilot in his flying gear holding a steering wheel