At least one airplane, complete with wings, motor and hope, was built in Warsaw before the first World War. It didn't fly very far or very high, but it did get off the ground and satisfy its makers.

There is a picture, in existence today, of this remarkable machine with the builders and other interested kibitzers looking either nonchalant, bored, important, stuffy or just plain, "here I am, the camera caught me." This faded photo causes memory to kaleidoscope to the rear-march, like a slow-motion news reel in reverse. For most of Warsaw's early mechanics are there.

Planted in strategic spots around the wings of the ships, may be seen Henry Anson, a bookish-looking chap, who tinkered with motorcycles and things, was later employed at the Cook motorcycle garage; Frank Conklin, another of the town's pioneers auto fixer-uppers, who twisted a wicked monkey-wrench at the Oram garage at one time; Marion Hart, who worked in several shops of that day, is there; George Mowrey, the same George who still rattles a bucket of bolts on North Detroit street, is an interested spectator; Harry Conklin can be identified in the bunch, but three of the aeronautically-minded gang I don't know.

 

Always in a photo, there must be the little man who wasn't there. In this case it is Chalmers Dome. He took the picture. Domie helped build the plane and never quite recovered from the infection. for his present vocation is selling people Hudson Motor cars, his avocation is flying.

Actual work on the airplane was done by Domie, Frank Conklin and Marion Hart. I suppose they received liberal doses of wing-tip engineering from the rest of the boys. The plane was parked for a while on a lot where the Sears and Roebuck store now stands. It was edged a little closer to open country and more parts were added on the site of the Thompson Coal yards. Later the ship was stored in a barn near the Big Four railroad tracks, in the south part of town.

It was made of light woods, whatever the boys had available, and was powered with a 20-horsepower Detamble engine, from the car of the same name. The motor had two cylinders and was expected to pull a 7 1/2 foot propeller, which it didn't do very well.

An old bicycle fork and bike front wheel formed the tail-wheel of the airplane and the front two wheels looked like they came from a motorbike. It was a monoplane in design. At least it had only one wing. In spite of its peculiar appearance now, the ship was not a bad try for a group of amateurs.

Finally, the thing was wheeled to a field near the present Country Club drive, later to become a golf course. For days the boys played with it, taxiing up and down the field. With Marion Hart at the controls, it did leave the ground on several occasions. Not very high and not for very far, but it flew. So it was, an airplane was built in Warsaw before the first World War.

There is a first-rate argument going on between the Airplane Owners' and Pilots' association and the C.A.A. The AOAPA hollers, "stupid and discriminatory," and the C.A.A. loftily replies, "nuts." and goes right on doing what it is doing. The AOAPA objects to the further installation of ILS (Instrument Landing Systems) at major airports, and advocates putting in CGA (Controlled Ground Approach).

They point out that there are 100 private ships for every airliner in existence, that to utilize ILS a private plane must have an elaborate instrument panel costing hundreds of additional dollars and then it isn't the best system. The pilot must also have the knowledge of an airline pilot, which he usually doesn't have, or he'd be one.

In the CGA system, which utilizes radar, the private ship needs nothing but a radio receiver. One expert on the ground, using radar, guides the pilot in, has him in view all the time. The entire CGA system is cheaper than any part of the ILS deal.

Well, the AOAPA says the C.A. A. answers their complaint in a typical governmental fashion, they are installing both systems at some fields! Boy, the money, tch,tch. The cheaper, safer, more useful CGA would do; would open private flying on many more days.

Far North Hunting
I've been given a swell list of experienced far-north flying services that will fly you into any of the excellent hunting country, show you where and how, come and get you. These bases are scattered all the way from the Dakotas to Maine, depending upon where you are going. You can get a quick hook-up with any of our local charter pilots to fly you from Warsaw to any of these hunting bases, where the bush pilots take over. Instead of spending half your vacation traveling, you can spend it all hunting if you go the air way!

Warsaw Daily Times, Wed. Dec. 3, 1947

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