Early Aviation in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Readers are invited to learn about aviation in Monmouth County during the early years of 1908-1930; however, this book is more about people and events in Monmouth County, New Jersey, than it is about the history of aviation. It is a tribute to the brave souls who dared to try to fly. Readers will learn about local residents who designed, built, patented, flew, or crashed, early flying machines. Others worked at the Aeromarine Plane and Motor manufacturing plant in Keyport. Locals had the opportunity to attend the 1910 Aviation Meet in Asbury Park, and Robert Collier's 1911 Aviation Gala in Marlboro. Some had the chance to meet visiting designers and aviators, including aeroplane patentee Thomas Edison, Wilbur Wright and his five-man Wright Exhibition Team, and stunt flying daredevils like Ruth Law and her Flying Circus Act. Early aviators risked their lives, their reputations, and their worldly possessions to pursue their dreams of flight. Worldwide interest in human flight exploded on December 17, 1903, when Wilbur and Orville Wright proved that successful manned flight was possible. Wright's machine-powered aeroplane is seen as one of the greatest inventions of all time. Aviation has come a long way since Wright's first flight! Chapters include: Charles J. Hendrickson; America's Greatest Aviation Meet; Monmouth Aviation Patents; Gala at Rest Hill; Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company; The Casey Brothers; De Luxe Air Services, Inc.; and Monmouth Builders and Flyers. Sources and an index to full-names, places and subjects add to the value of this work.