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FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE
Ralph E. McMILLEN
Pioneer Curtiss Exhibition Pilot

Information is lacking concerning the date and place of birth and education of this pilot; bit he was reportedly from Perry, Iowa. He entered the flying game when he became a student at the Curtiss Flying School at North Island, San Diego, California, in the first winter class in January 1912.
There McMillen was one of a large class of students and the chief instructor was J. W. McClaskey assisted by J. L. Callan. His initial instruction was on an early Curtiss pusher school biplane with a 4-cylinder 40 hp Curtiss engine; [[crossed out]] he rapidly grasped the feel of the air. After completing his course he flew the tests for pilot license successfully and received F.A.1 Certificate ,/lll on March 22, 1912.
McMillen continued his flying practice and came east when the school moved back to Hammondsport that spring. He became a member of the Curtiss Exhibition team during the early part of the summer season, then bought a Curtiss plane of his own and started flying exhibitions by himself. 
September 11 to 13, 1912 he flew at Chadron, Nebraska, thirty minutes a day and on October 26 exhibited at Overland Park, Kansas City, Missouri. On December 7 he flew from Macon to Callao, Missouri. 

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