First SLO Aeroplane Fight, July 4th 1910

First SLO Flight with Hillary Beachey at the controls,
Photo by Frank C. Aston from Terrace Hill

For a July 4th 1910 celebration of Independence Day, Hillary Beachy the older brother and mentor of the famed aviator Lincon J. Beachy made the first aeroplane flight over San Luis Obispo in what appears to be a Gill-Dosh Curtiss type biplane. An improvised airfield was made at the end of Higuera Street near the cemetery and ball park field. The 600 pound plane had been shipped in and assembled onsite by Beachy and his assistant Frank Eton.

According to the Morning Tribune on the day:

The long-looked-for flight of an aeroplane in this city was not what it was expected to happen, but the aviator got off the ground to a hight of 15-20 feet and after flying along for 500 feet came back to earth again. Something broke and after some time was spent, in which a bystander made all kinds of offers to take a chance at the machine, Beachy took a second chance and gave up the attempt. The conditions of the ground on the field opposite the cemetery were against him and the stubble even punctured the tires of the wheels on the flying machine. The people gathered there by the thousands. After entering the ball park and finding the machine was further down the line they walked to the place and claimed the hill nearby or lined themselves along the road. As the aviator flew the required distance for straight away flight he has earned his money on the first condition of his contract, but will not get any $1500.

It seems Frank C. Aston's photo of the fight recorded a higher flight altitude than just 15-20 feet! I think Beachy was gipped of his award and is due compensation for the effort. Perhaps the SLO City Council would like to pay for airport plaque in his honour to record the momentous event?

Carl Sandburg wrote a poem to Lincoln J. Beachey, the 'Viking of the Air' that captured the heroic daring of these early flight pioneers:

Lincoln Beachey
 (Library of Congress,  Prints & Photographs Division,
 LC-USZ62-55137/loc.gov)

Riding against the east,

A veering, steady shadow

Purrs the motor-call

Of the man-bird

In his throat

And in his heart always

The love of the big blue beyond

Only a man,

A far fleck of shadow on the east

Sitting at ease

With his hands on a wheel

And around him the large gray wings,

Keep and deal kindly, O wings,

With the cool, calm shadow at the wheel.

Keep Flying and Keep Dreaming SLO.

C-