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

fully studying every bit of information he could find concerning it. In 1907 he decided to try to build an aeroplane and disclosed his plans to Roy Beall, who was not impressed. After further persuasion Martin coaxed Beall to help make the parts for a monoplane, with a Ford automobile engine, in the Martin garage during spare time. While this work was in progress another local mechanic, Charles Day, also joined them to help with the project. 

The machine was finished in late 1907 and taken to a pasture lot outside of town for test. There  Martin started taxying around to get the feel of it, and killed his engine at the far end of the field. He got out and restarted it himself, the throttle jarred open and the machine started off in a mad rush while he hung to the frame work. Gaining speed in tightening circles it soon collapsed in a heap of wreckage. Martin was not injured but was very disheartened and dejected by the failure of his first aviation venture.

The garage business was going good and Martin soon took stock of his failure and began planning to build another plane. As a result of much local ridicule he decided to be more secretive about his plans and rented an abandoned church where he could keep his work from the public eye. Again Beall and Day assisted him, and this time they built a copy of the early front elevator, single surface Curtiss Pusher, still using the Ford automobile engine. When it was finished they took it out to the field about midnight and were there at daybreak the next morning to attempt first tests. Martin had different plans for his second try, and without any preliminaries opened the throttle and took off. As soon as he was airborne he closed the throttle and settled back down for a hop of about 100 feet just above the ground. This first brief hop was made on August 1st, 1909, and Martin was undoubtedly the first person to fly in California. 

Martin and his two loyal assistants continued their experiments that Fall but were unable to make more than mere hops due to lack of power, then Martin obtained a 3 cylinder 30 H.P. two-cycle Elbridge aircraft engine which was a major improvement. The work of experimenting, making changes and trying to fly extended into 1910, then Martin decided to enter the "Events of Novices" at the first Los

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