Viewing page 2 of 26

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[image - logo]]
THE EARLY BIRDS OF AVIATION, Inc.

[[image]]

Name GLENN E. MESSER
Address P.O. Box 2855A, Birmingham, Alabama 35212
Phone Area Code 205 Phone 595-5911

FIRST SOLO 
When- Where  May 13, 1911 Streator, Illinois
Soloed on- Glider
           Plane -Wright Model B
           Ballon
Age when soloed  Just under 16 years of age
Instructor  George  Gustfason

AVIATION ACTIVITIES
BEFORE DEC. 17, 1916

Did exhibition flying through Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri in the eyars 1911, 1912, 1913,1914 and 1915. In 1912 purchased my first airplane, a Curtis equipped with a Kemp engine that was replaced with a Nome and later it was replaced with an 0X2. Sold the Curtis in 1916. Joined the R.F.C. in 1916 as an instructor. Returned to the US in 1917 and helped install the Gosport System of Flying, also served as Engineer Test Officer. Was discharged in 1920.

AVIATION ACTIVITIES
AFTER DEC. 17, 1916

Barnstorming - Mail pilot
Military service - Airline
Aircraft mfg., etc.
Did exhibition work as Messer Flying Circus which later became Messer-Fairgraves Flying Circus. Did over 1000 parachute jumps, did acrobatic trapeze acts, was the first person to change from plane to plane in flight without use of a ladder. Flew the first airmail in the South in 1923. Flew real estate advertising in Florida doing sky writing. Set a record of 87 loops in the elapsed time of ten minutes from time wheels left the ground until touch down on landing in an AIR BOSS which he designed and manufactured in Birmingham, Alabama from 1926 to 1929. Two of these planes, Messer flying one of them, placed in the money in the 1929 Cleveland Air Races. He and Porter Landrum put into being one of the first controllable propellers. Glenn Messer has been actively engaged in flying, aviation activities and aviation business for over 63 years. He holds single, multi and instrument ratings and is a mechanical and aeronautical engineer. Other than conventional aircraft he has flown seaplanes, gliders, helicopters and jets.

STILL ACTIVE IN FLYING
RETIRED FROM ACTIVE FLYING..........
Passed his annual physical July 12, 1974
Signed [[signature]]Glenn E. Messer[[/signature]]
Date September 24, 1974