Viewing page 3 of 6

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

256

JOSEPH PENDHAYN
Pioneer Chicago Pilot

Joseph Pendhayn was born at Kapfenstein, Steirmark, Austria, September 21, 1888. Information is lacking concerning his early life, education, occupation and when he came to the United States.

The first evidence of his interest in aviation was when he enrolled as a student at the Lillie Flying School at Cicero Field, Chicago, Illinois, during the early summer months of 1913. There he was taught to fly on a Lillie-Wright Type B school machine by instructors Lillie and Thompson. After completing his course he obtained F.A.I. Pilot License No. 252, dated August 6, 1913. Receiving their licenses at the same time were Lillie students R. G. Sestak, C. J. Schaap and N. M. McGuire. 

Pendhayn continued flying practice at Cicero in 1913, then in April, 1914, he wanted to get into the exhibition game, so in April he purchased the 50-Gnome engined Lillie tractor biplane for this purpose. Designed by Vought, this plane was built in the Lillie shop and had been flown successfully by members of the Lillie pilot staff. Needing a bit more power Pendhayn installed an 80- [[strikethrough]] horsepower [[/strikethrough]] h.p. Gyro rotary engine in May, then began flying it at Cicero.

In early June he let Charles Wiggin fly it, but in landing it flipped over on its back, caught fire, and was badly damaged. Wiggin escaped unhurt. The plane was so nearly destroyed Pendhayn decided against trying to rebuild it, so he bought the small Day tractor biplane from the Lillie organization and began practicing on that. It was powered by a 4-cylinder, 40-[[strikethrough]] horsepower [[/strikethrough]] h.p. Hall-Scott engine which Pendhayn replaced with a 4-cylinder Kirkham engine.

During this period assisting Pendhayn was Early Bird C. R. "Sinner" Sinclair who became his mechanic that season. Using Cicero Field as their headquarters, Pendhayn and Sinclair started out on exhibition dates about mid-July and were