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

GEORGE SCHMITT
Pioneer Vermont Exhibition Aviator

George Schmitt was born in Rutland, Vermont in 1891, son of a German immigrant who owned and operated the Marble City Bakery. Young Schmitt attended local schools and developed an early interest in aviation. 

He read everything he cold get his hands on about flying, then in 1909 ordered materials from C. and A. Wittemann of Staten Island, New York, with which he built a hang-type biplane glider in his home workshop, assisted by his younger brother Charles. When completed Schmitt successfully made numerous short gliding flights from a cliff on Buffman's meadow on South Main Street, Rutland. From this activity he got the feel of the air and was determined to learn to fly.

After completing high school, Schmitt went to New York City in the spring of 1910 to study electrical work at a trade school. At once he spent all his available spare time at the Mineola aerodrome watching the flying and helping the aviators whenever possible.

He then decided to build a plane of his own and obtained financial assistance from his parents and some Rutland business men, then ordered prefabricated parts for a Curtiss-type front elevator pusher biplane from C. and A. Wittemann. With the help and advice of Wittemann and pioneer aviator C. O. Hadley, Schmitt assembled the plane at Mineola, to be powered by a 4-cylinder

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