HARRY P. CHRISTOFFERSON 1884-1968

Kitty Hawk Celebration December 16, 1961 From Chirp, No. 96

 

HARRY CHRISTOFFERSON ON THE AeroFiles WEBSITE You will find an entry for several of Harry's companies on the AeroFiles website. There are descriptions of several planes including four images You can visit the references by clicking on: Harry Christofferson and using the "Find" function on "Christofferson"

 

PERSONAL REMEMBRANCES ON THE AeroFiles WEBSITE You will find a delightful anecdote by Harry on the AeroFiles website. It is one of a collection of remembrances which come from the July 1953 Aero Digest You can visit his story, and several other EB's by clicking on: Harry Christofferson and using the "Find" function on "Christofferson" Plan to spend some time on this wonderful site.

 

 

Harry P Christofferson was born in Spencer, Iowa, March 31, 1884. Built a monoplane, 1910; was mechanic for Charles Walsh on Curtiss pusher, 1911, Learned to fly, 1912; barnstormed, 1912 to 1915; pilot for J. Paulding Edwards Flying School, San Carlos, California, 1917; Howell & Lesser Co., San Francisco, California, building "jennies", 1918 to 1919.      In 1919, Harry built an airplane which he said anyone could duplicate in his own workshop. He unveiled it March 31, 1919, when he flew it out of the aerodrome over the heads of the observers, soared out over the ocean, banked right to the Cliff House at San Francisco and then returned for a triumphant landing.      "I feel my plane will make flying for everybody," he said after the flight, "It is the Ford idea expressed in a new way. Why just think, the boy, when he tires of his motorcycle engine could buy it and fly it, just as he could learn to ride a bicycle.      Christofferson owned and operated a flying school in Redwood City, California. many of the Early Birds made their first flights there.      Harry Christofferson died Sunday, December 8, 1968 in a Santa Clara hospital at the age of 84. Funeral services were held at the Gantner-Felder-Kenny Mortuary. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Virginia Haas, and two brothers, Carl and Nate Christofferson. From The Early Birds of Aviation CHIRP, January, 1969, Number 75

 

Harry P Christofferson died in 1968 From The Early Birds of Aviation Roster of Members January 1, 1993   Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this Early Bird, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper   Back