Archibald Hoxsey
Encyclopedia
Archibald Hoxsey was an aviator for the Wright brothers
.
on October 15, 1884. He moved with his parents to Pasadena, California
and by 1909-1910 his mechanical ability led to a meeting with the Wright Brothers
. In March 1910 the Wright brothers opened a flight school in Montgomery, Alabama
and Hoxley was a teacher there. There he became the first pilot to fly at night.
On October 11, 1910 at Kinloch Field
in St. Louis he took Theodore Roosevelt
up in an airplane.
Because of their dueling altitude record attempts, he and Ralph Johnstone
were nicknamed the "heavenly twins".
On December 30, 1910 Hoxley set the flight altitude record
of 11,474 feet.
He died on December 31, 1910 in Los Angeles, California
after crashing from 7,000 feet. He was trying to set a new flight altitude record
. The Wright Brothers paid for the funeral.
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
.
Biography
He was born in Staunton, IllinoisStaunton, Illinois
Staunton is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Staunton is located at ....
on October 15, 1884. He moved with his parents to Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
and by 1909-1910 his mechanical ability led to a meeting with the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
. In March 1910 the Wright brothers opened a flight school in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
and Hoxley was a teacher there. There he became the first pilot to fly at night.
On October 11, 1910 at Kinloch Field
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a Class B international airport serving Greater St. Louis. It is located approximately northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated St. Louis County between Berkeley and Bridgeton. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state with 250 daily...
in St. Louis he took Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
up in an airplane.
Because of their dueling altitude record attempts, he and Ralph Johnstone
Ralph Johnstone
Ralph Johnstone was a pioneering early aviator who died in a crash.-Biography:He was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1886. He started as a vaudeville trick bicycle rider. With a signature finale of performing a mid-air forward somersault. He became a Wright exhibition team pilot...
were nicknamed the "heavenly twins".
On December 30, 1910 Hoxley set the flight altitude record
Flight altitude record
These are the records set for going the highest in the atmosphere from the age of ballooning onward. Some records are certified by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.-Fixed-wing aircraft:-Piston-driven propeller aeroplane:...
of 11,474 feet.
He died on December 31, 1910 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
after crashing from 7,000 feet. He was trying to set a new flight altitude record
Flight altitude record
These are the records set for going the highest in the atmosphere from the age of ballooning onward. Some records are certified by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.-Fixed-wing aircraft:-Piston-driven propeller aeroplane:...
. The Wright Brothers paid for the funeral.
External links
- Archibald Hoxsey bibliography
- Early Aviators: Archibald Hoxsey
- North Dakota first flight
- Video of flight with Theodore Roosevelt in 1910
- Hoxsey's own description of Roosevelt flight October 12 1910 United Press International
- Photo of Arch Hoxsey & President Roosevelt seated in Wright Flyer prior to their flight
- Another camera angle of Hoxsey & President Roosevelt in Wright aeroplane before their flight
- Arch Hoxsey & Colonel Roosevelt ready to fly image from Wright State University(http://dmc.ohiolink.edufor pic click on 'history & archives' section then type in Theodore Roosevelt's name).
Further reading
- Hoxsey trading card
- New York Times, August 20, 1910; Airmen Play Tag With Moonbeams; Hoxsey And Johnstone Unexpectedly Make Two Night Flights At Asbury Park. Asbury Park, New JerseyAsbury Park, New JerseyAsbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 16,116. The city is known for its rich musical history, including its association with...
, August 19, 1910. With no one to watch them save the night birds and a few invited friends. Arch Hoxsey and Ralph Johnstone, the young Wright airmen, winged their way up among the moonbeams between 10:00 and 10:30 o'clock tonight. - New York Times, October 9, 1910; Flight Of 104 Miles Is Made By Hoxsey; In Wright Biplane He Goes From Springfield To St. Louis With A Detour. St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
; October 8, 1910. After making the longest continuous aeroplane flight recorded in America, Arch Hoxsey, who soared aloft in a Wright biplane at Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, at 11:56 this morning, landed upon the lawn of the St. Louis Country Club shortly before 3 o'clock this afternoon, Although the distance to St. Louis from Springfield is only 88 miles, Hoxsey made a detour that brought his continued flight up to 104 miles. - New York Times, Sunday, January 1, 1911; Wrights Deplore Hoxsey. He Was One Of The Most Promising And Intrepid Of Aviators, They Say. Dayton, OhioDayton, OhioDayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
; December 31, 1910. The announcement of the death of Arch Hoxsey at Los Angeles today came as a terrible shock to Wilbur and Orville Wright, but they emphatically declared that they did not care to discuss the accident until they had heard further details and had received a statement of the conditions under which it occurred from some experienced aviator who witnessed it. - Time (magazine)Time (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
; Monday, June 11, 1928; I have a picture of President Roosevelt seated in a plane which was of the "pusher" type: Beneath the picture is the following notation: "Colonel Roosevelt in a Wright Aeroplane at St. Louis. Archibald Hoxsey, who carried the Colonel twice around the Park, a distance of 4½ miles, is seen talking to Mr. Roosevelt, who was most enthusiastic over his experience, declaring he never felt a bit of fear. This picture shows the Colonel as he took his seat. Before starting he took off his hat and put on a cap." Unfortunately the picture is not dated but the information may be of interest to those who are debating the "Rough Rider's" courage anent leaving terra firma.