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

L. EARLE SANDT
Early Curtiss Exhibition Pilot

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L. Earle Sandt was born in Brookville, Pennsylvania May 18, 1888, the son of a local druggist. He was a natural-born mechanic, loved automobiles and motorcycles and became quite an expert with engines. Later Earle and his brother Walter moved to Erie, with relatives, where the two brothers owned and operated the Star Garage. 

Earle became intensely interested in flying during the summer of 1911 when Bud Mars flew at Erie on July 14th and Lincoln Beachey July 29th and 30th. Beachey flew over and around the city on the 29th and raced a local motorcycle r[[strikethrough]]o[[/strikethrough]]ider at Reed's Race Track on the 30th. As a result of this home town flying activity, Sandt was determined to learn to fly, and raised the money to buy a new Curtiss aeroplane, which included instructions. He went to Hammondsport in the fall of 1911 where he was taught to fly by Curtiss instructor Francis "Doc" Wildman. 

Finishing the course in November, the new plane was shipped to Erie, and Wildman accompanied Sandt to his home as a good will gesture to help him get started. There, Sandt made his first public exhibition flight on Thanksgiving Day from a field at 30th and Peach Streets. This flight ended in a minor accident when the engine quit in the air. Sandt continued his practice and on occasion took some of his friends up for a  short hop. As soon as the local harbor was frozen over his operations were transferred to the Public Dock, and he continued his flights off the ice.