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FROM THE HAROLD & MARVEL MOREHOUSE AVIATION PIONEERS COLLECTION NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM 

GEORGE SCHMITT
Pioneer Vermont Aviator

George Schmitt was born in Rutland, Vermont in 1891, son of a Bakery owner. He attended local schools and developed a serious early interest in aviation.

As a result he read everything he could get his hands on about flying, then in 1909 he built a biplane glider in his home workshop. The upper wing was about one-third longer than the lower, with a front elevator and inter-wing ailerons. The seat was on the lower wing and it had a tricycle undercarriage. When completed he took it to the local fairgrounds where automobile towed flights were made around the race track. In spite of numerous smashups, making frequent repairs necessary, Schmitt learned the rudiments of flying with this glider.

Firmly bitten by the flying bug he then started to build a Curtiss-type biplane with parts purchased from Wittemann Brothers in New York. Schmitt arranged to have his plane at the local Logan County Fair on Labor Day, 1910, but owing to delays he did not complete the installation of his 4-cylinder 40-60 H.P. Elbridge engine until the day before the event. Although just completed, and not yet tried, Schmitt had his plane at the Fair Grounds as promised and made his first powered plane hops at that public event, a truly plucky demonstration of 
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