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FROM THE HAROLD & MARVEL MOREHOUSE AVIATION PIONEERS COLLECTION National Air & Space Museum ADOLPH G. SUTRO Pioneer West Coast Aviator- Plane Builder [[image]] Adolph G. Sutro was born in San Francisco, California, October 25, 1891, a grandson of the city's former Mayor. He attended local schools then entered Santa Clara College in Electrical Engineering. While in college Sutro became interested in aeronautics and followed the work and progress of Professor J. J. Montgomery, who was conducting gliding experiments in the Santa Clara valley. After graduating from college in early 1910 he decided to go to Dayton to see if he could get work in the Wright Brothers shop to learn aircraft construction. They put him to work and he was there until summer of 1911, when Robert Fowler came to get his plane and take some instruction in preparation for his planned coast-to-coast flight. Naturally Sutro and Fowler developed an agreeable acquaintance and as a result Sutro joined Fowler as mechanical assistant and was a member of the group with him on the coast-to-coast flight that fall. During this time Sutro reportedly learned to fly and got some flying practice. After the Fowler flight Sutro returned to San Francisco determined to design and build a plane of his own. He then entered the University of San Francisco in an evening class of Engineering and Stress Analysis, and began work on his plane. After months of planning, study and hard work his plane was completed. 1