Early Cornell aviation article

Collection — manuscript box: 14 - folder 1

Identifier: 37-7-m.385

Scope and content

Photostatic copy of article in The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 3, 1908, titled "Cornell Students Fly" about a plane flown at Varna, N.Y. by John Burkhart (Class of 1908) and Oscar Trorlicht (Class of 1908). Additional articles can be found in the New York Times, September 3, 1908

Scope and content

Additional articles can be found in the Ithaca Daily Journal, September 2, 1908; the New York Times, September 3, 1908: "An aeroplane constructed by two Cornell students, made its first successful trip to-day at Varna, three miles south of this city. The constructors, John C. Buckhart [sic] of Portland, Ore., and Oscar Trorlicht of Indianapolis, have been trying to perfect their machine all summer. The machine slipped along for sixty yards on rails and then rose into the air. Reaching a height of fifty feet the aeroplane traveled at the rate of forty miles an hour for several miles. Sighting a clump of trees ahead the driver brought the aeroplane to earth and alighted without mishap. Buckhart [sic] says that with a better engine he will be able to travel a great distance" and the Wellsville Daily Reporter, Wellsville, N.Y., September 4, 1908; and

Dates

1908.

Language of Material

In English.

Biographical / Historical

In 1908, John Burkhart of Portland, Oregon and Oscar Trorlicht of Indianapolis ahd successfully built and flown an aeroplane. It was flown for several miles at 40 miles per hour, steered to avoid a stand of trees and safely landed. It was built on the “Hammondsport pattern” and equipped with a six-cylinder 40-horsepower engine. After graduation, Burkhart returned to Portland and continued to build and fly aeroplanes.