William Harper Jr. was a pioneer aviator and aviation engineer with the Wright brothers.[1]

Biography

In 1912 he built his own airplane to fly out of Roosevelt Field, New York.[2]

The airplane was a monoplane, resembling the contemporary Blériot, with a span of 50 ft (15 m).[2] It was powered by a two-cylinder two-stroke of 50 hp (37 kW),[2] driving a 9 ft (270 cm)-diameter propeller.[2] It was outfitted with a speedometer and a crude turn-and-bank indicator.[2]

It was reportedly able to glide as much as 300 yd (270 m).[2]

It was scheduled to fly in June, from a field east of Mineola, on the Hempstead Plains.[2]

On February 3, 1914, Harper married Florence Tobin of Denver, Colorado in Newport, Rhode Island.[3]

Writings

  • William Harper, Jr. (August 23, 1908). "Gyroscope in Air. Mr. Harper Shows How It May Resist Shifting Air Currents". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-12. I have taken keen interest in the articles on the development of aerial navigation, which The Times treats perhaps more fully than any other metropolitan daily. ...

References

  1. ↑ "Harper Takes Them as Passengers in His Big Yellow Monoplane". New York Times. October 21, 1912. Retrieved 2010-09-12. William Harper, Jr., was the most envied aviator on the field here this afternoon, when he took out a number of attractive girls in his big yellow for ...
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Aeronautics: Volume 10. Aero Club of Pennsylvania. 1912. p. 179.
  3. ↑ "Tobin-Harper Wedding To-day". New York Times. February 2, 1914. Retrieved 2010-09-12. The wedding of Miss Florence Tobin of Denver and William Harper, Jr., of New York will take place to-morrow evening at the cottage of the bride's aunt, Mrs. James J. Brown. Only relatives will be present. A dinner at the MuenchingerKing will follow, with Mrs. Brown as hostess.


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