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flights and the animal seemed to love it.

That summer the Moisant Company was developing an all-new 50 hp., Gnomepowered monoplane, designed and built by Early Bird Harold Kantner. Called the Kantner-Moisant "Bluebird" it was superbly built and especially designed for easy tear-down and assembly for exhibition and military use, Wood did considerable flying with this new plane. 

On August 8th, while Kantner was in Europe on a business trip, Wood establish a new American cross-country, non-stop distance record by flying the "Bluebird" from Hempstead, Long Island, to Gaithersburg, Maryland, 277 miles. His intended destination was Fort Myer, Virginia, but he was forced to land short of his goal to adjust the engine that had been missing for some time. A special railroad train had been sent to follow Wood, but he did not see it at any time. The Moisant company planned this trip to demonstrate the plane before Government military officers. After correcting the engine trouble, Wood flew on to Fort Myer where he remained for some time flying Government tests. When this work was completed Wood flew back to New York. 


On October 13th he was a competitor in the annual Round-Manhattan race, flying the "Bluebird." Also flying in the event were William S. Luckey, Charles Niles, Guy Gilpatric, and Tony Jannus. It was a very stormy, windy day, creating a hazardous flight; Wood came in third. 

That fall he left the Moisant Company to accept a position as advisor and instructor to the Army Air Force of the Republic of Guatemala at Guatemala City where he remained for two years. In later years Wood was employed in Michigan and was living in Highland Park, Michigan, in 1938.

After retiring he made his home at Manatee, Florida, where he passed away suddenly on July 12, 1967, at age 82. He was survived by a daughter and grandchildren. He was a member of the early Birds. His last flight was on a Boeing 720 Jet to Detroit, Michigan, for burial in Evergreen Cemetery. 

Flying Pioneer - Clyde M. Wood became an active and competent pilot during the early era and did his bit to help establish our modern air age. A careful, safe pilot he had no major accidents. 

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