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flying school and engage in the exhibition business. Somerville was President and Treasurer of the new firm, Richard Seeley, Vice-President, Anthony Testa, Secretary and E.J. Hazel, C.E. Cummings, O.A. Miller and L. Veronda were Directors. A new tractor biplane, which was a larger load-carrying airplane using an 80 h.p., Hall-Scott engine, was completed during the spring months of 1912. Somerville himself had not yet become a full-fledged aviator, so he engaged an experienced Benoist pilot, Edward Korn, to conduct some first flying tests of this new plane, on a consulting basis. Following this, West Coast aviator, Earl Daugherty, joined the firm as pilot and assistant engineer on a full time basis. With the help of these two men the new plane became highly successful that season and considerable noteworthy flying resulted, including some exhibition work.

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On August 22, 1912, Daugherty flew from Coal City to Mason, Illinois, and return, carrying the local chief telephone operator, Miss Kate Miller, as a passenger. At Mason he made exhibition flights at the Grundy County Fair. On August 28th he flew from Coal City to Mason carrying Robert Wilson of the Joliet News, who delivered copies of the News to Fair patrons. Following this he flew exhibitions at Joliet and Odell, Illinois, flying cross-country and return to both engagements. September 12th through the 21st Daugherty flew the Somerville plane at the 1912 Chicago Aviation Meet at Cicero Field, where there was a large group of nationally know aviators. There the plane really showed its merit, performing well in all the major events. Following the Chicago Meet, Daugherty gave exhibitions for the fairs at both Springfield and Kankakee, Illinois. That summer the residents of Coal City became accustomed to the sight of the Somerville plane on daily flights over and around the town. On October 20th Daugherty set a new American passenger-carrying record with this plane at Coal City when he carried four men and a boy for an extended flight.

By the end of October the flying season was over and Daugherty returned to