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Aero Club of America

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Crowd at the Belmont Park air show in 1910, sponsored by the Aero Club of America

The Aero Club of America was a social club formed in 1905 by Charles Glidden and others to promote aviation in America. It was the parent organization of numerous state chapters, the first being the Aero Club of New England. It thrived until 1923, when it transformed into the National Aeronautic Association. It issued the first pilot's licenses in the United States. It sponsored numerous air shows and contests. The organization gave out the Collier Trophy. Cortlandt Field Bishop was President of the Aero Club of America in 1910.

History

In the summer of 1905, several members of the Automobile Club of America including Charles Glidden, Homer W. Hedge, David Morris, John F. O'Rourke, and Augustus Post founded the Aero Club of America. They were avid balloonists but found little support in America for the sport of aviation. They determined to establish a new club with an organization similar to the Automobile Club but whose purpose was to promote aviation, much like the Aero Club of France.[1] Homer Hedge became the first President.

In 1910, three different conventions were held in New York among aeronautical clubs and societies. The National Council of Affiliated Clubs of the Aero Club of America, was formed. Thirty-nine delegates, representing constituencies from Pasadena, California, to Boston, met at the Aero Club and formed the parent organization of various state chapters.[2]

At the Belmont Air Show in October 1910, a considerable controversy arose between the Englishman Claude Graham-White and the American J. B. Moisant. In one race around the Statue of Liberty, Graham-White won by several minutes, but due to a technicality, the race and considerable prize money was awarded to Moisant. John Armstrong Drexel made public statements accusing the organization of favoritism toward its own members, and Drexel held a competing dinner banquet at the same time as the awards banquet of the organization. The schism among the membership threatened the integrity of the organization, but was ultimately resolved with Drexel's resignation.[3].

Historical notes

Some of the later licenses issued by the Aero Club of America bore the printed signature of Orville Wright. Wright served for a time as Chairman of the Aero Club of America's Contest Committee. Contrary to popular myth, the Wright brothers were not issued licenses number 4 and 5 for malicious reasons. They were simply among the five pilots who had, in America, demonstrated their ability to fly airplanes before the Aero Club of America's licensing program began. Those first five licenses were issued in alphabetical order –-- a practice followed by other national organizations belonging to the FAI.

Pilot's licenses were not required by law (except by some states) until well after World War I. Aero Club of America licenses were required for participation in sporting events and demonstrations sanctioned by the ACA and FAI, and they gave credibility to pilots seeking to perform demonstration flights for hire, but many American pilots never applied for a license, which required a demonstration of flight proficiency.

Notable Licensees

Some notable early pilots issued licenses by the Aero Club of America are listed below.[4]

Airplane division

Seaplane (Hydroaeroplane) division

Balloon division

See who's who of ballooning.[7]

Airship (Dirigible) division

Note: "Dirigible" simply meant that the airship could be made to go in any direction.

See also

Other Aero clubs

References

  1. ^ Heitman, Charles H.; Club, Aero (12 January 1910). "Growth of aviation due to aero club". New York Times. New York.
  2. ^ "National aero body formed after fight". New York Times. New York. 23 June 1910.
  3. ^ "Says aviators closed meet". New York Times. New York. 3 November 1910.
  4. ^ Robie, Bill (1991). For the Greatest Achievement. Washington, DC and London: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  5. ^ http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/aviation/sti.htm
  6. ^ http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/aviation/sti.htm
  7. ^ Rechs, Robert. "Who's who of ballooning". Retrieved 16 August 2010.
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