Viewing page 5 of 14

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

This is a double tractor biplane with upper wing span of 45 feet, the lower 33 feet, and wing warping on upper wing extensions only. It had a covered fuselage, central skid landing gear and the two tractor 8-foot diameter propellers were chain driven from a 60 H.P. 8-cylinder Hall-Scott engine as in motor car practice. 
    Sutro took his completed new plane to Sunset Flying Field, Alameda, California for first trials in August, 1912, where he began grass cutting and hopping practice. During these preliminary trials he had a smashup, breaking one propeller, the central skid and damaging the radiator. By early September he was flying well and making flights up to 30 minutes and carrying passengers. One day he flew over Alameda and surrounding vicinity. Later in September he had another smashup when the motor quit near the ground due to fuel stoppage. That fall he decided to change the floats so as to fly from the water.
    As 1912 ended he had built a hangar and hydro ramp at the beach near Harbor View and close to the Panama Pacific Exposition grounds. He then obtained permission from the Exposition Committee to conduct a flying school and carry some passengers.
    In early January, 1913 he was flying off the water of the Bay with single large central float and wing tip tanks installed. Sutro flew his license tests in February 19, 1913. In March he started a flight carrying a Government Representative to demonstrate his plane. While getting up speed on the water to take off he passed astern of a steamer where the wake capsized the plane, throwing him and his passenger into the water. Fortunately they were able to hold on to the pontoon until they were picked up by a nearby boat. 
    On September 26th Sutro established three new American Hydro records for distance, duration and altitude for pilot and two passengers on a flight over the Bay. Carrying Stuart Dodge and Arthur Knapp they remained aloft for 1 hour, 15 minutes at 800 feet altitude, the total weight carried being 876 pounds. Even so, Sutro was disappointed when the flight was terminated by a bad oil leak. During the year Sutro had advertised his flying school and passenger project.