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257

CECIL M. PEOLI
Early Baldwin Red Devil Pilot

Cecil M. Peoli was born in New York City October 13, 1893. He attended public schools and in his youth became an active aero-modeler. He was one of the leading members of the New York Model Aeroplane Club, formed in 1910, and was an award winning rubber-powered modeler in eastern competitions. This club was well known throughout the East in modeling circles and many of their members went on to prominence in the aeronautical world. 

In the fall of 1911 one of Peoli's models set a new American record by flying 1,691 feet at a contest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which stood as a record for some time. Shortly afterward Peoli sold the rights of this model to the Ideal Model Aeroplane and Supply Company in New York who, for some time, advertised it as a kit.

Peoli competed in model meets on Long Island and in New York City parks during the winter and early spring months of 1911-1912. Captain Thomas S. Baldwin, who was building planes at Mineola, was always looking for young recruits to train as exhibition aviators and he took a great personal interest in these Model Club youngsters.

During the spring of 1912 Baldwin induced young Peoli to take flying instructions. He was a very elert [[alert]] and apt pupil and on June 22nd flew his tests for pilot license and was granted F.A.I. Certificate No. 141 on June 22, 1912, at Mineola, flying a Baldwin pusher biplane with a Hall-Scott engine. Baldwin immediately took Peoli out on an exhibition engagement at Oswego, New York, on July 4th, then he returned to Mineola where Peoli continued practice. 

On July 20 he had a minor smashup at Mineola when his rudder jammed on takeoff, but he was not injured. August 1 Peoli started a one-week exhibition engagement at Barrie, Ontario, with Captain Baldwin, and on August 20 Peoli and Horace Kimmerle flew at Findley, Ohio. During August and September