Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, July 6 2018

High Desert Hangar Stories
Early aviation: The realm of adventurers
and an observer took off from Bishop and made their way south to the town of Independence, where the then-un- known force we now call the Sierra Wave almost brought a quick end to the attempt, when severe wind cur- rents tossed his plane around in a way that had the young aviator rethinking his strategy. Over the next couple
See SILAS, Page 7
by Bob Alvis
special to Aerotech News
Here in the record-setting Antelope Valley, we’ve become accustomed to the aviation milestones achieved in the skies above us, with major and minor records stacking up on almost a daily basis.
Over the years, public knowledge of these events has run the gamut, from military aircraft testing conducted in secret, to widespread newsprint and television coverage and a chance to gain some national pride.
It wasn’t always that way. Long be- fore Muroc or Edwards ever saw an airplane on a regular basis, the record- breaking business of aviation was seen less as technology and more like the circus coming to town. Back in 1914, aviation didn’t belong to the military and commercial aviation industry. It was made up more of adventurers who, a few years prior, were more apt to be building bicycles or enjoy- ing early day autos. Flying was still getting the feel of its newly-found wings and a bunch of early young adventurers had no problem looking for challenges to catch the attention of the non-flying public with acts of dar- ing. They challenged the unknown in planes that were more like kites than aircraft.
and shipped to California to make the attempt at the record. On June 20, the plane arrived and was assembled at the Bishop driving field and the kick off of the Owens Valley aviation fes- tival got underway, with the hope of ending the event with the record flight over the Whitney summit.
After much fanfare, the aviator took to the task of fine-tuning his craft and getting it ready. On the 22nd Silas
Silas Cristofferson at Bishop before the record flight attempt.
Courtesy photograph
Silas Cristofferson was one of those young, daring West Coast aviators who had no problem staring down the unknown and putting himself in danger, while exploring the possibili- ties and capabilities of the aircraft of the day. When the Inyo Motor Club wanted to seek funding from the gov- ernment for a roadway to run up the Owens Valley and connect it to the rest of the country, a stunt was thought up that would achieve the wanted pub- licity for the sponsoring organization.
A plan was put forward to attempt an aviation flight that would achieve an American altitude record over Mount Whitney near Lone Pine. The call was put out and San Francisco-based Cris- tofferson answered the challenge and put into motion the assembly of an aircraft to attempt the flight.
Silas drew up the plans for the aircraft that would be known as the Whitney plane and sent them back to the Curtiss Aircraft Works. For $7,000, the plane was constructed
Courtesy photograph
Mount Whitney in California.
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