Emil Matthew Laird
Encyclopedia
Emil Matthew Laird was an American
aircraft builder and pilot. He is credited with putting the first commercial aircraft into production.
Laird's first contraption was a bicycle with glider wings attached that he built at the age of 15. By age 17 he had built and flown an airplane of his own design in his mother's attic. By the age 20 Larid was recruited by promoter Bill Pickens to demonstrate aircraft. Laird was paid $350 just to take off and circle a field in the early days of skeptical onlookers. Laird crashed a biplane with a tail modification he just constructed in Texas, leaving him in the hospital for nine months, and out of WWI.
with his brother Charles and investors William A. Burke and Jacob Mollendick to build an aircraft called the Swallow in Wichita. Laird left the company in 1923 and founded the E. M. Laird Airplane Company
to build commercial aircraft and custom designs. Laird's racing planes won the Thompson Trophy
and Bendix Trophy
races. Laird died in Boca Raton at the age of 87.
Laird was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1999.
Laird's 1915 biplane of his design flown by Katherine Stinson
is on display at the Henry Ford Museum.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aircraft builder and pilot. He is credited with putting the first commercial aircraft into production.
Early life
Laird's first experience with aviation, was watching a chance flight up the shoreline of a Wright Model A flown by Walter Brookins while working as an office boy at the First National Bank of Chicago.Laird's first contraption was a bicycle with glider wings attached that he built at the age of 15. By age 17 he had built and flown an airplane of his own design in his mother's attic. By the age 20 Larid was recruited by promoter Bill Pickens to demonstrate aircraft. Laird was paid $350 just to take off and circle a field in the early days of skeptical onlookers. Laird crashed a biplane with a tail modification he just constructed in Texas, leaving him in the hospital for nine months, and out of WWI.
Post War
In 1920 Laird co-founded the E. M. Laird CompanySwallow Airplane Company
In January 1920, the E.M. Laird Aviation Co. Ltd. was started with the purchase of the six month old Witchita Aircraft Company, it's aircraft and the factory of the Watkins Manafacturing Company. Oilman Jacob Mollendick and Buick-Franklin salesman W.A. Burke each contributed $15,000.The first...
with his brother Charles and investors William A. Burke and Jacob Mollendick to build an aircraft called the Swallow in Wichita. Laird left the company in 1923 and founded the E. M. Laird Airplane Company
E. M. Laird Airplane Company
E. M. Laird Airplane Company was a American aircraft manufacturer of commercial aircraft and custom race planes.- Wichita Airplane Company :...
to build commercial aircraft and custom designs. Laird's racing planes won the Thompson Trophy
Thompson trophy
The Thompson Trophy race was one of the National Air Races of the heyday of early airplane racing in the 1930s. Established in 1929, the last race was held in 1961. The race was long with pylons marking the turns, and emphasized low altitude flying and maneuverability at high speeds...
and Bendix Trophy
Bendix trophy
The Bendix Trophy is a U.S. aeronautical racing trophy. The transcontinental, point-to-point race, sponsored by industrialist Vincent Bendix founder of Bendix Corporation, began in 1931 as part of the National Air Races. Initial prize money for the winners was $15,000...
races. Laird died in Boca Raton at the age of 87.
Early aircraft
- 1912 Laird Baby BiplaneLaird Baby Biplane-External links:*...
Laird was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1999.
Laird's 1915 biplane of his design flown by Katherine Stinson
Katherine Stinson
Katherine Stinson was an early female flier. She was the fourth woman in the United States to obtain a pilot's certificate, which she earned on July 24, 1912, at the age of 21 while residing in Pine Bluff, AR...
is on display at the Henry Ford Museum.