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40 H.P. Elbridge 2-cycle aircraft engine.

In view of his financial help from home Schmitt had promised the Rutland Fair Committee he would try to have his plane completed and make a flight, if possible, during Fair week starting on Labor Day. His engine arrived too late to get it installed and tested in the plane before it was time to ship the machine to Rutland, so he had never flown anything except his glider. The Fair Committee had also arranged to have J.C. Storrs, of Stamford, Connecticut, exhibit his Bleriot monoplane, and a tent had been provided to house the two plane, then on the third day he did get it started and he taxied up and down the field for a while, then courageously took off and made his very first short straightaway hop. 

During the remainder of the Fair Schmitt made several more such hope before cheering groups of his local townspeople. He had "made good" and they gave him credit for accomplishing what he had said he would "try to do". Storrs failed to do anything so Schmitt stole the show. After the Fair Schmitt and Storrs exhibited their planes at the Caledonia County Fair at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, but did not fly. Charles Willard was there and did fly. 

Following this event Schmitt shipped his plane back to Mineola where, with some tutoring from the local aviators, he began to teach himself to fly. He succeeded in getting in some preliminary practice that fall, then during the winter months he changed his plane to a headless machine and revised the landing gear somewhat. 

In the early spring of 1911 he resumed practice at Mineola and by May 1st was making circles and flying quite well. He diligently kept at his practice and gradually became quite experienced. He wanted to get into exhibition work and earn some money so he teamed up with Henry Thor to forms the Thor-Schmitt Aviation Company to arrange bookings, with an office in New York. Thor was to be the advance man and booking manager to make arrangements for exhibition engagements. 

During this period Schmitt was plagued with motor trouble and as a result

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