Viewing page 6 of 15

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

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

On March 27th, 1914 Peoli left for an extended exhibition tour of South and Central America for Baldwin and expected to be away until mid-summer. While there he was reportedly the first person to fly over the Andes Mountains. There are indications that Peoli left Baldwin to go into business for himself after he returned from this trip. For some time he had been planning on and wanted to build a plane of his own design and on September 5th he was flying a new plane at a weekend meet at Hempstead, Long Island, New York. It was a biplane with the upper wing having much more span than the lower, and was powered by a 75 H.P. Rausenberger 8 cylinder engine.

In January, 1915 he formed the Peoli Aeroplane Company in New York to build planes and had the backing of five prominent New York business men. A bid was soon submitted for the construction of a plane for the United States Navy, but the firm was unsuccessful in getting a contract. Apparently in order to get shop facilities Peoli made a deal with the Washington Aeroplane Company, Washington, D.C. to used their shop, and a new larger plane was built there during the late winter months of 1914-1915, then on April 1st, 1915 the Peoli Aeroplane Company took over the Washington company and prepared to move there for future operations.

On April 12th, 1915 Peoli was instantly killed in a crash of this latest plane during the initial flight tests at the College Park Airport just outside Washington. At age 22 he has made a wonderful start as a pilot, designer and manufacturer and it was truly a pity that he was taken away so soon. Well liked everywhere, heart and soul in his work, his ambition was to excel in whatever he did. His body was returned to New York for burial and his young company dissolved.

Flying Pioneer Cecil M. Peoli was a most promising and brilliant young aviator and designer who possessed every promise of commanding a prominent place in early America aviation but, unfortunately, he was not given the necessary time to accomplish his goals. For the short time he had he certainly established his ability to do so and his name must be well recorded in aviation history for his noteworthy efforts of accomplishment.