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be a trick. When they arrived it was found the grounds were entirely unsuited for flying and the equipment did not arrive for over a week. Two planes finally came, one in a dilapidated condition, so Stadlman and the group set about rebuilding it for something to do. Powers finally attempted a flight and after a precarious landing condemned the location for further flying.

After a winter of serious involvements and no instruction Stadlman and Powers returned to Chicago about mid-April, 1912 where they made preparations to start some experimental and development work of their own with hydroaeroplanes on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. This work evidently started about June 1st, using a Curtiss-type hydroaeroplane with a 75 H.P. Roberts 6 cyl. engine. They continued this test work through July and occasionally Stadlman rode with Powers as a passenger, then they flew some exhibition dates through the mid-Summer and Fall months of 1912. On July 4th Powers flew an exhibition appointment at Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, where they had been stationed and teaching William Simmons of Minneapolis, Minnesota. On July 19th he flew at Waverly Beach, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 27th and 28th at Berlin, Wisconsin, and starting August 1st flew at a Chautauqua at Chain-O-Lakes, Wisconsin. On August 4th he flew at Waupaca and August 28th at West Allis, Wisconsin. During this time Stadlman was his chief mechanic, assisted by A. W. Leupold. About this time stadlman became mechanic in charge of equipment and construction of new planes for the Milwaukee School of Aviation at West Allis, Wisconsin. They had three or four planes, one in a bad state of repair, so his first task was to rebuild and put it in commission. When finished it flew so well he decided to try to fly it himself, even though he had never soloed. On October 28th in turning to avoid a windmill at the end of the runway he hit the top of a tree and smashed up, but was not injured, which suddenly ended his brief first flight.

During the winter of 1912-1913 Stadlman apparently built both a land

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