A.E. Hunt's 'aeroplane' that never flew used principles involved in today's whirlies
Creator: Wichita Eagle
Date: January 8, 1956
This article published in the the Wichita Eagle deals with the accomplishments of early aviation enthusiast A.E. Hunt. Hunt, of Jetmore, Kansas, built a flying machine in 1910 containing design elements that would later be refined and used in some of the world's first helicopters. In fact, the article compares the features found on Hunt's rotary aircraft to a Cessna CH-1 helicopter in order to demonstrate the similarities between the basic elements of each craft's design.

Aeroplane stabilizing mechanism
Date: November 11, 1919
This patent drawing and description depicts and describes Frank Dove's Aeroplance Stabilizing Mechanism. Dove, a resident of Topeka, Kansas, who worked with Albin Longren, applied for the patent on February 6, 1918, and the patent itself was issued on November 11, 1919. Dove's mechanism provided increased control and helped stabilize airplanes in flight.

Albin Kasper Longren and Dolly Longren with plane #5
Date: 1914
A photograph showing Dolly Longren at the controls of Longren airplane #5. Albin Kasper Longren the designer and builder is standing by the plane.

Albin K. Longren
Date: Between 1910 and 1915
A portrait of Albin K. Longren, who in 1911, constructed and flew his first pusher-type biplane, dubbed the Topeka I. That flight earned him the distinction of being the first to manufacture within Kansas a successfully-flown aircraft. This was the beginning of a lifelong career in aviation for Longren. As an aviator, he barnstormed throughout the Midwest, making a total of 1,372 exhibition flights from 1911 - 1914 without a major mishap. Longren channeled his income from barnstorming into his more serious interest of aircraft design and construction in his Topeka factory.

Albin K. Longren's No. 6, Model G airplane
Date: Between 1916 and 1920
This is a photo of Philip Billard sitting in Albin K. Longren's No. 6, Model G airplane (biplane) which was built in 1916. Longren and his wife Dolly opened an airplane factory in Topeka, Kansas. Longren's factory was the first successful aircraft manufacturing firm in Kansas.

Cessna airplane
Date: 1911
Photo of "Silverwing," a Cessna monoplane in flight. The "Silverwing" was completed by May 1911 and was based on the Bleriot monoplane designed by French aviator and inventor Louis Bleriot.

Clyde Cessna
Creator: Cessna Aircraft Company
Date: 1910s
Clyde Vernon Cessna, 1879-1954, aviation pioneer and founder of Cessna Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas, with a Comet airplane that was built in 1917.

Clyde Cessna
Date: 1916
Clyde Cessna and his 1916 airplane, the first Cessna aircraft built in Wichita, Kansas. This photo was taken at Beaver, Oklahoma, with part of the Beaver Boosters.

Clyde Cessna
Date: 1917
This photograph shows a group of men including Clyde Cessna (4th from left) posing with the first plane built in Wichita. The image includes a description that reads "a part of the Beaver Boosters, Okla [Oklahoma]."

Clyde Cessna, aircraft firm founder, passes
Creator: Wichita Eagle
Date: November 21, 1954
This article published in the Wichita Eagle covers the death of aviation pioneer Clyde V. Cessna. Cessna, who died at the age of 74, first became involved with aviation in 1911 when he built and flew his first airplane. By 1917, Cessna moved to Wichita, Kansas, and set up his first factory which produced a six-cylinder powered monoplane.

Feature of show
Creator: Topeka Journal
Date: May 15, 1912
This article covers the excitement generated by H.W. Jacobs's Multiplane at the 1912 New York Aero Show in New York City. Jacobs, assistant superintendent of motive power of the Santa Fe railroad in Topeka, built the four-winged Multiplane in his spare time. Although underpowered, Jacobs's design was airworthy and aircraft with more than two wings were used with great success during World War I.

Flight record #42
Creator: Billard, Louis Philip, 1891-1918
Date: December 7, 1916
Flight record #42 recording Philip Billard's December 7, 1916, flight in a Longren Model G tractor-type airplane. Billard's flight time was part of the hours required to renew his pilot's license.

Flying machine, Goodland, Kansas
Date: Around 1910
This photograph shows the Goodland flying machine, a forerunner of the helicopter, designed and patented by William Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland, Kansas. Purvis and Wilson built the ship about 1910. The engine was apparently too small and the machine never flew.

Fuselage
Date: April 10, 1922-June 16, 1925
The patent, #1,541,976, depicts and describes Albin Longren's method of Fuselage construction circa 1922. Longren's goal was to construct an airplane body that was not only lightweight, but also durable in order to withstand the stresses related to powered flight. As illustrated in the drawing and described in the text of the patent, Longren's method of constructing a sturdier fuselage relies upon the use of ribbing along the entire length of the fuselage to provide increased rigidity and durability.

Goodland men built pioneer helicopter
Creator: Salina Journal
Date: September 22, 1977
This article, published in the Salina Journal covers the achievements of William J. Purvis and Charles A. Wilson. In 1909, Purvis and Wilson, both Goodland, Kansas, railroad mechanics, built a precursor to the helicopter in their spare time. Although their experiments were less than successful, the U.S. government granted Purvis and Wilson a patent for their rotary-winged design.

Great Air Future
Creator: Topeka Journal
Date: June 12, 1919
In this article from the Topeka Journal, Albin K. Longren predicts that air travel will soon be as common and affordable as travel by motor vehicle. Longren also contends that the airplane manufacturing plant that he intends on setting up will be capable of producing twenty-five airplanes per day in order to meet the anticipated demand.

Hamilton Hall, Topeka, Kansas
Date: 1910s
This photograph shows Hamilton Hall in Topeka, Kansas, where A.K. Longren built his first airplane, Topeka 1.

H.L. Call's airship built in Girard, Kansas
Date: 1908
This postcard shows Henry Laurens Call's airship in 1908 outside its hangar in Girard, Kansas.

Jacobs Multiplane
Date: Between 1910 and 1912.
This rendering of H.W. Jacob's Multiplane provides a detailed view of the aircraft's construction, as well as its size. Built between 1910 and 1912, Jacobs's Multiplane received national attention at the 1912 New York Aero Show.

Laird Limousine after conversion to single engine configuration
Date: 1921
This photograph shows a Laird Limousine that was converted from a two-engine airplane to a single-engine airplane. The pilot of the limousine is Walter H. Beech, who later went on to work with the Travel Air Company and the Curtiss-Wright Aviation Company before founding the Beech Aircraft Company along with his wife Olive.

Laird Swallows
Date: Between 1920 and 1925
A view of four new Laird Swallow airplanes parked in a field at 29th and Hillside Streets in Wichita, Kansas. Designed by aviation pioneer Emil Matthew "Matty" Laird, 1886-1982, the first Swallow was built for the commercial market in 1920 by Laird Swallow Manufacturing Company of Wichita.

Longren aircraft factory, Topeka, Kansas
Creator: Longren, Albin K., 1882-1950
Date: 1920
This photograph shows the Longren aircraft factory circa 1920. Various pieces for building airplane wings are laid out on the tables, including large sections of wings that have already been partially assembled.

Longren aircraft taking on fuel at Clay Center, Kansas
Date: 1922
This photograph shows A.K.Longren standing beside one of his AK model airplanes while it is being refueled at Clay Center, Kansas.

Longren invention reduces dangers of men who fly
Creator: Topeka Capital
Date: May 14, 1916
This article from the Topeka Capital discusses Albin K. Longren's early interest in aviation and his development of a balanced lateral control that facilitated greater stability and control while in flight, allowing pilots to have a much easier time turning their airplane. In addition, the piece addresses the construction of Longren's tractor bi-plane that was being built for the Kansas National Guard aeroplane section commanded by Captain Phil Ballard. Finally, the article mentions Longren's efforts to build a sizeable factory capable of producing a large number of airplanes for both civilian and military use.

Longren's airplane company, Topeka, Kansas
Creator: Boeger, Paul
Date: Between 1914 and 1917
This black and white photograph shows the Albin K. Longren's airplane plant at 420 SW Jackson Street in Topeka, Kansas. The building ,which is still standing, manufactured at least five different airplane models in its day. The photograph shows the small-scale nature of early aircraft production.