L.A. Birdmen: West Coast Aviators and the First Airshow in America

While today most would name Wilbur and Orville Wright as America's earliest aviators, ask anyone in the first decade of the 20th century and they would surely list August Greth, John J. Montgomery, Lincoln Beachey, Roy Knabenshue, and Captain Thomas Baldwin as the face of American aviation. While the Wrights claimed they could fly, the Californians proved it - thrilling millions of spectators and capturing the spirits of the country. This energy coalesced in 1910 when, thanks to a skilled promoter named Dick Ferris, the city of Los Angeles hosted the International Aviation Exposition, the first airshow ever held in the United States. The airshow launched the West Coat aviation industry and cemented the city's reputation as the country's "flightiest" city at the time. Los Angeles Birdmen uncovers the stories and surprising legacies of California's daring pilots and airmen - the true American aviators at the turn of the century.

Although the Wrights made their first public demonstrations in 1908 after years of reclusive testing, critics remained skeptical that their heavier-than-air approach was the way to fly. Yes, they had gotten airborne, but their machine was unbalanced and dangerous to boot (a fatal crash bolstered these fears). Meanwhile, the Southern California Aero Club had members who promised to have their machines ready to fly. It took 500 carpenters, 1.9 million feet of lumber, and 700,000 nails to build the 20,000-seat Exposition Grandstand at Dominguez Field. The stage was set for a battle between the lighter-than-air dirigibles and the heavier-than-air aeroplanes for the future of flight. The Los Angeles International Aviation Exposition opened on January 10, 1910 - marking the first time an airplane flew west of the Mississippi and planting the seeds of inspiration for companies such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

In this soaring history, author Richard J. Goodrich uncovers the neglected story of early American aviation and the California School of flight, - none of them named Wright - whose disciples left lasting impacts still felt in the air today.