1878-1960 AKA Frank Coffin |
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Photo Courtesy of Jim Stratos |
Photo Courtesy of Jim Stratos |
1959 EB CHIRP, Jan. 1960 |
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The Knoxville Journal, Knoxville,Tennessee, June 29, 1910 Transcribed by Bob Davis - 10-16-03 Count DeLesseps made two exhibition ascensions. On his second flight he ascended higher than he has yet done in Canada and in both descended in his usual graceful way. Lachappelle, a member of the Wright team, made good time in speed circles, doing the first lap in two minutes, two seconds." Frank Coffyn, another Wright man, and Walter Brookins, went for a trip together, stayed up for fifteen minutes, twenty-five seconds. This was the first double ascent of the meet." |
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Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: March 30, 1911, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 8-3-05 |
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Knoxville Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: March 31, 1911, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 8-03-05 It was found impossible to take a straight course because of the direction from which the wind came. Several times on the trip it seemed as if a landing must be made but each time no available spot was in sight." Note from Bob Davis: Your article says 41 miles, newspaper says 28 and there are few other towns around in that part of South Carolina, but flying stories like fishing tales, grow with time! |
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July 12, 1911 WIND WILL NOT HINDER COFFYN FROM MAKING SPECTACULAR FLIGHTS Clipping Courtesy of Jim Stratos |
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Frank T. Coffyn, safest of aviators on the continent, and holder of the world's record for endurance with a
passenger on his aeroplane, arrived in town this morning for the exhibition and was engaged all morning in directing the unloading of his
aeroplane at the exhibition siding. He presents a striking figure as he directs his operators. tall and slim, he is not perhaps a robust athlete, but his clean cut features and eager eye mark him off as one who is alert and alive to all that is going on around him. He shows not a sign of reckless daring, but of a calm readiness and promptness to meet with every situation. Coffyn has made himself a name all over the continent: as the steadiest of the bird men---witness the fact that last month at Detroit he carried in three days as many as 45 passengers, twelve of them ladies. He has only been a year in aviation, but from his earliest days he had always taken a keen interest in machines of all kinds. About eighteen months ago he was introduced to the Wright brothers and was immediately selected by them as one of their first team of six. Of that team Coffyn is the only one still in the limelight, the others being the victims to the cause of flying, or having retired from the field. Alone among them, Coffyn has preserved a unique record of steady and certain flights without incurring any serious accident. During the past winter he has been engaged in the Wright instruction camp at Aikens, South Carolina, and also in military endurance tests at San Antonio, Texas. It was at this latter place that he made the world's endurance record with a passenger. He took up with him Lieut. Foulois. Just after they ascended, it began to rain, but the two determined to remain up as long as possible. They kept in the air for an hour and 36 minutes, the world's record. Last month Coffyn was flying at Detroit, under the auspices of the Michigan Aero Club, and he comes here direct from Troy, N.Y., where he made several flights last week. There was a good deal of hustling at the grounds this morning getting the machine into its tent in front of the corona. This afternoon it will be put together, and will be in readiness for the flight, which will take place in the infield about 5:30 "Does it always blow like this here?" said the daring flyer. He was asked if such a wind as today would prevent his flight. "Oh, no," he replied. "It is , of course, safer without the wind; but your wind here seems to be steady and there is not so much risk." The machine will be open for public inspection. It is made of spruce wood ---the lightest procurable --- and sail cloth. The whole machine weighs about 350 pounds and with aviator and gasoline less than 1400 |
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Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Tennessee: Sunday,October 8, 1911, Transcribed by Bob Davis - 8-17-05 by Bob Davis |
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from the George Grantham Bain Collection in the Library of Congress Courtesy of Bob Davis, 7-31-05 |
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from the George Grantham Bain Collection in the Library of Congress Courtesy of Bob Davis, 7-31-05 |
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On the Dock, Minus Pontoons from the George Grantham Bain Collection in the Library of Congress Courtesy of Bob Davis, 7-31-05 |
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Preeminent among the sites is the following, an especially exciting and precious new addition to the online resources. |
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You will want to visit each of the following sections. About the Project You will want to visit each of the categories; The Project, Who was Frank T. Coffyn and the Wright Exhibition Team. The Collection: Introduction The Frank Coffyn Collection is part of the Research Library collection at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville, New York. It is actually the contents of a scrapbook kept by Coffyn of his early days as an aviator. When it was discovered, most of the images had come away from their original paste mounts and were in no recognizable order. With the images now identified, the collection has been sorted into the main categories below. As study of the collection continues, further identifications will be added and published in this system. We welcome information from the public that may help in this effort. This section is divided into several categories: Highlights, Stories, Aircraft, People, Locations, Photographers, Images types and "View all Images." Coffyn's Flying Machine The Wright Model B aircraft was designed, built, and flown during Frank Coffyn's time with the Wright Company. It was the first airplane to go into mass production, and was the most successful of the Wright company's machines. The Wright Experience has been building authentic static reproductions of the Model B since 1994, and in 2003, completed a flyable version. This airplane used the same engine Frank Coffyn used on a Model B in 1912. Join the Wright Experience as they rediscover this airplane, and meet the challenge of learning to fly Coffyn's flying machine. This section is divided into four categories: Rediscovering, Building, Testing and Flying. |
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Frank T. Coffyn, president of the Early Birds in 1942-43, died Dec. 10, 1960, at Palo Alto, Calif. Eighty-two
years of age, he was the last of the five original members of the Wright Brothers exhibition flying team and the oldest pilot in the United
States. Orville Wright himself taught Coffyn to fly in 1910, and he became a member of the Wright team. He took the first motion pictures from an aircraft in 1912, after he had left the Wrights. Among his achievements in aviation developements were: He helped produce an electric camera for use in planes; he participated in making the first aluminum pontoons for aircraft; he pioneered the mapping of air mail routes, though he never flew the mail. During World War I, Coffyn served as captain in the Army Air Corps. After the war he became a free-lance pilot. In 1944, at the age of 66, he qualified for helicopter licence No. 3. He held pilot's licence No. 26. He was employed in 1946 as public relations adviser for Hiller Aircraft Corp., a position held until he retired in 1956 at the age of 78. Among his survivors is his widow, Mabel Coffyn. Interment was at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, Calif. Editors Note: Mr. Jim Stratos has kindly supplied the two photos and the following news clipping to this site from his extensive collection of the personal memorabilia of Frank. He came into possession of the collection by chance and hopes to contact any of Frank's descendents who may be interested in claiming the many photos and personal effects. |
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If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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