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FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MORESHOUSE

EARLE L. OVINGTON

Pioneer Bleriot Monoplane Pilot

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Earle Ovinton was born in Chicago, Illinois December 20th, 1879.  He attended Irving School at Tarrytown-on-Hudson, New York, then college at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he graduated as an Electrical Engineer.

In 1896 Ovington started his career with Thomas Edison as an X-ray laboratory assistant.  After a time he was transferred to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, following which he was employed by the New York Telephone Company.

In 1905 he formed the Ovington Manufacturing Company, then in 1908 the Ovington Motor Company.  During this period he became an enthusiastic motorcyclist and was the American [[cross out]] D [[cross out]] distributor for the foreign-built FN motorcycles.  He engaged in motorcycle racing and became well acquainted with Glenn Curtiss.  In this activity Ovington became President of the Federation of American Motorcyclists.  He developed an early interest in writing and publicity work, covering early flying events.

Ovington definitely decided to be come an aviator when he attend the 1910 Belmont Park Aviation Meet held October 22d to 31st, 1910 as a special technical correspondent for the New York Times.  He did not have the money necessary to enter the flying game but succeeded in getting some financial friends to sub-

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