William Harper Jr.

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. 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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