CHAPTER 6
 
CHARLIE FAILS FLYING TESTS
     On April 19, 1911, Walsh made two attempts to pass his flying tests for an aviator's license but failed. The Macomber engine began to act up. An inspection revealed that it needed extensive work, Harkness was notified and underwrote any overhaul charges that might incur. The engine was returned to the factory and Charlie began work on a second Silver Dart. This machine would be for his own use. It had more than proven itself as a safe and sturdy flying machine. The old problem of a reliable engine was again present. He didn't want a tempermental Macomber that needed constant attention and weekly overhaul. Friends urged him to look into a new aeroplane engine being developed in San Francisco by a firm call Hall-Scott. Charlie did and the literature from them was quite impressive. I promised an honest 40 hp with their 4 cylinder inline water-cooled Model A "aeronautical motor." Charlie ordered the first production Hall-Scott engine and subsequently installed it in the second Silver Dart.
     In the meantime the Macomber engine was returned and Walsh proceeded to make acceptance flights before John Kiley, who represented the Harkness in Los Angeles. It was accepted and shipped to North Island in the latter part of April 1911. For goodwill and publicity purposes, Harkness turned the plane over to Kiley, little more has been uncovered regarding this plane except that Harkness seemed pleased with it and the Macomber engine. It was flown quite often from the San Diego Aero Club Camp. In later 1912, the Walsh's were in New York and they visited the Mineola Flying Field on Long Island, Alice, always nosing around, spotted a tent with a sign on it "No Trespassing." She couldn't resist peeking inside; her eyes bulged as she screamed for Charlie to have a look. No mistake, it was the Harkness Silver Dart. They could not find out any more about it, however, and never heard of it, or saw it again.
 
CHARLIE BECOMES SOLVENT
     Harry Harkness paid in full for the Silver Dart and the Walsh's finally had adequate working funds. Charlie repaid the $1,000 he had borrowed from his father, and sent a check in for the Hall-Scott engine. The second Silver Dart was ready for flight and they still had a few hundred dollars in the bank. The only money in aviation during those days was in exhibition flying and demonstrations of the airplane. Charlie was planning such a future when a representative fo the Pacific Aviation Company of Portland, Oregon approached him to fly for them. They had exhibition dates lined up all over the West. Thousands of people would come to see Walsh the Daring Birdman defy gravity. If he would sign the contract, he would be guaranteed a high percentage of all gate receipts. They painted a pretty picture, too pretty, Charlie looked it over and signed. He was now a Professional Exhibition Aviator, the star of the show. By May 1, 1911, he was launched on a new and even more exciting career. Charlie Walsh's days with the Manning group, having his plane stolen and then becoming a member of the Curtiss Exhibition Team to form a two man stunt with Lincoln Beachey will be presented next.		  

 
 
CHARLES F. WALSH....EXHIBITION AVIATOR
     To Charlie Walsh exhibition flying was the whole world. In 1911 it was about the only way one could make a swing at the new Art and Science of Aeronautics. Although he had only been flying for a year, he was experienced enough to make a believer of even the most serious Doubting Thomas's. His Silver Dart pusher type airplane was equal in design and construction to any "aeroplane" flying at the time, and, so, with intrepid emotions he began his professional career iwth the H.W. Manning group under the banner of the Pacific Aviation Company.
     Henry Manning had already lined up a full summer and fall schedule of flight exhibitions throughout the Northwest. Harry Christofferson, youngest of the Christofferson brothers, who would later make a name for themselves in aviation, was already working for Manning and became Charlie's mechanic. They made a great pair. Harry could repair anything and was able to keep the Silver Dart airworthy despite adverse conditions, constant dismantling, erection, and numerous accidents. Planes weren't flown from one engagement to another in those days. A flight around the pasture, race track, or fair grounds was asking plenty from both pilot and machine.		  
 
 
 
AVIATOR C. F. WALSH SOARING OVER AVIATION FIELD AT WENATCHEE, WASH
JUNE 3, 1911                     BY T. GAGNON
Library of Congress Collection
  
 
FIRST EXHIBITION FLIGHTS, 1911
     Walsh's first exhibition flights were made at Portland, Oregon on May 27th and 28th, 1911. He made an unprecendented four flights each day and carried prominent citizens on their first airplane ride. Quick take-offs, climbs to 1000 feet, and steep banks left the spectators gasping in excitement. Similar spectacular perfomances were put on at Seattle between June 9 and 11. It was here that Charlie had his first misfortune when the wind blew the plane into a telephone pole during a landing. Charlie was unhurt but it took the better part of two days to get the plane back into the air.		  

 
Charles Walsh
  
 
FRAGMENT FROM AERO, July 8, 1911
Collection of Ernie Sansome
  
       Throughout July and August, the schedule remained heavy. Flights were made a Vancouver, B.C., Wenatchee, Washington where he ran into an apple tree. Albany, and LaGarange, Oregon where the wind blew the plane backwards down the road. Twin Falls and Moscow, Idaho and on to Cheyenne, and Laramie, Wyoming. Upon reaching the higher elevations of Laramie, Wyoming is 7,200 feet above sea level, Walsh installed extra wing panels, increasing lift and thus enabling takeoff in the thinner air. For most of these cities ti was the first airplane to ever fly in the area. During one of his flights at Seattle, Walsh flew out over Lake Washington and upon landing told officials that one day soon they would have to go down into the lake and trim the trees if they wanted to keep the waters navigable. There were several wrecks of old sailing vessels. The people couldn't believe it, but from the air these conditions wre readily evident. Some 10 or 12 years later, the Seattle newspaper carried accounts of how the State lowered the water level of Lake Washington some 12 feet by dredging a canal to Puget Sound Bay and then topped the overgrowth of trees and debris.      The next dates were at Fremont, then Kearney, Nebraska, by Aug 11 & 12, Walsh had made ten exhibition engagements, covered four states and one at British Columbia in two months time and there were always large crowds in attendance. It seemed to Charlie's wife, Alice, that they weren't getting a fair share of the gate receipts though. She asked Manning if she could take the tickets at the Kearney Show since she wasn't doing anything anyway. Hank Manning's son Jack always had his job. He wasn't too enthused over the idea but Jack welcomed the time off. Alice got the job and sure enough, by the end of the day she figured they were only getting about 20% instead of the promised 40% of the gate receipts. Alice was furious and wanted to have it out with the Mannings then and there, but neither of them could be found. Charlie calmed her down and promised they would discuss the matter with the managers the next day.      The Walsh's arrived at the fair grounds early in the morning to find everything torn down and gone. Like a gypsy carnival, the tents were gone, the refreshment stands, even the Walsh airplane, and particularly amiss was any trace of the Mannings. For days they tried to find the men or the airplane. No one knew what happened. The townspeople were sorry and apologetic but the promoters had skipped clean and free.  

 
   

 
 
Grant Park - 1911
  
 
International Aviation Meet
Grant Park, Chicago
(For complete story, click on title)
Courtesy of Gary Williams,
Air-Racing Writer
America's Flyways Magazine 2-24-06
  
       Charlie was at a loss. Angry and dejected he picked up the family, the few extra dollars they had saved and went to Chicago where an "Aeroplane Meet" was to be held at Grant Park. Charlie wanted to see what the Eastern flyers wre doing and perhaps meet a few. He did, and in a whirlwind of excitement, signed with the Curtiss Exhibition Company, as one of their regular aviators.  

 
 
Charles Walsh
  
 
First aviators license issued in California,
to Charles F. Walsh on Aug. 8, 1911,
by the Aero Club of California.
(Original in the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.)
Collection of Ernie Sansome
  

 
 
CHAPTER 5  CONTENTS  CHAPTER 7