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K-33-62

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

[[top-left margin]] ORIG [[w/r?]] 
WILLIAM TRIMBLE
Photo order [[/top-left margin]]

L. EARLE SANDT
Early Curtiss Exhibition Pilot

L Earle Sandt was born in Brockville, Pa., May 18, 1888, the son of a local druggist. He was a natural born mechanic, loved autos and motorcycles and became quite an expert with engines. Later, Earl 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. Beachy flew over and around the City on the 29th and raced a local motorcycle rider 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 instruction. 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 Eerie, and Wildman accomplished 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 on him in the air. Sandt continued his practice and on occasion took up some of his friends 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. He gained experience rapidly, and in January, 1912, made an attempt to break Beachey's altitude record of 11,642 ft. by had to give up at 9,000 ft. due to the cold.

In February, 1912, the local Government weather forecaster at Eerie was interested to know if Lake Eerie was completely frozen over, and since Sandt had the idea he would like to fly across the Lake and back, he decided to find out. On February 20th, without any previous arrangements, he took off at Eerie for Port Rowan, Canada, but landed unheralded at the lighthouse on Long Point, Canada, 30 miles form Erie, 34 minutes later. The lighthouse keeper was dumbfounded when he saw Sandt land outside. Sandt went inside to get warm, and asked if he could get a little gasoline. After considerable searching the keeper found some which was put in the tank for the return flight. The lake was frozen over solidly, and on the return trip Sandt had engine trouble, probably due to the poor gas he had obtained at the light house, which had been taken from an inactive motor boat. Finally it sputtered and quit entirely when he was about ten miles off shore from Eerie. In making a landing on the rough ice he smashed up, was thrown clear and knocked unconscious. When he