Eugene Burton Ely
1886–1911Eugene Burton Ely crashed, repaired, and learned to fly a Curtiss biplane, then performed exhibitions and earned pilot license #17 in 1910.
Particulars
In early 1910 Eugene Burton Ely and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon, where Ely worked as an auto salesman for E. Henry Wemme. When Wemme bought a Curtiss four‑cylinder biplane, Ely offered to fly it, crashed, bought the wreck, repaired it, and learned to fly, subsequently operating it around Portland.
In June 1910 Ely traveled to Minneapolis for an exhibition, met Glenn Curtiss, and began working for him. After an unsuccessful attempt in Sioux City, Iowa, his first exhibition for Curtiss occurred in Winnipeg in July 1910. He received Aero Club of America pilot’s license #17 on 5 October 1910.
Compiled from Wikipedia. Automated record.