WORDEN'S PLANE 1885-1916

Worden's Plane The airplane was my Dad's project , supervised by Worden. He said his Dad and the other Schmid brothers may have helped some, as they are in the photo, but it was always told in the family that Ben K. Schmid was the one who built the airplane at his welding shop in downtown Dallas. Contributed by Ben Schmid, 2-15-11

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES - 1 via email from Ben Schmid, 2-10-11           The plane had a Curtiss OX3 engine and was made for him by my father and his           brothers at a shop in Dallas.           It was made entirely in Dallas, the engine was installed under his personal           supervision.           After it was assembled, Worden had it moved to Vickery Station ( a flying area           near Dallas at the time......now it is in the city).           He practiced in that area for weeks and received a fall when the wheels of the            plane caught on a fence and turned the monoplane over. The machine was           recently overhauled when he made his last flight at 5:30 PM.           Trying to do the loop the loop, he was unable to right the monoplane, which fell to           earth at a terrific speed. His body was crushed directly under the plane.           The altitude instrument registered 2,000 ft and the clock had stopped at 7:07 PM.

 

The Worden Family & Friends My father Ben K. Schmid, is the second person on the left, follwed by his brother Henry Schmid, Frank Schmid, the two men in the suits are unknown, Lawrence Schmid, Walter Buhrer. The small man with the pipe may be Heiny Buhrer (Walter's older brother). The Buhrers were dairymen and friends. Contributed by Ben Schmid, 2-15-11

 

Worden's Plane Contributed by Ben Schmid, 2-15-11

 

Worden's Plane Contributed by Ben Schmid, 2-15-11

 

Worden's Plane Contributed by Ben Schmid, 2-15-11

 

Worden's Plane Contributed by Ben Schmid, 2-15-11

 

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