Rocket PoweR, InteRstellaR tRavel and eteRnal lIfe

Figure 8. The Elmira Airplane Corporation, probably from the
early 1920s, advertised flights. A newspaper article suggested
later “there is less inclination on the parts of visitors to the field
to imitate a bird . . . ”
beginning the Elmira Airplane Exhibition
Corporation developed and is in charge of Mr.
Daniel Hungerford.
“Mr. Dunn always took a keep interest in aviation,”
said Mr. Hungerford, “He always found time to see
me when I wished to consult with him on any matter,
even when I did not previously arrange an
engagement. He told me many a time how he and
Mrs. Dunn sat at their home above Clark’s Glen
and watched our airplanes over the city.
“Leon Brink, of our Corporation, will leave the
Hungerford Airport Wednesday at the time of the
funeral at St. Patrick’s Church, climb to a high altitude
and slowly sweep in a high spiral over the
church. When the funeral procession leaves for the
cemetery, the airplane will lead and at the close of
the ceremony at the resting place of Mr. Dunn will
drop loose flowers.” 44
In the early 1930s, city directories listed Daniel
Hungerford as president of the Elmira Aeroplane
Exhibition Corporation with Floyd as secretary and
Bingham as treasurer. The corporate office remained at
823 West Second Street with the field at the junction of
Corning Road and Tompkins Corners Road. But while
the 1936 directory still had a final listing for Elmira
Aeroplane Exhibition, the dissolution of the corporation
had come from the Secretary of State on December 15,
1934 “pursuant to section 203-A” of the “tax law”. It
seems likely the Exhibition Corporation was not a lucrative
undertaking for any of its shareholders or employees
(if any).
Thomas E. Byrne noted that the Caton Avenue
Airport operating on the south side of the Chemung
River in Elmira since 1927 closed in January 1934. The
Elmira Flying Club which had been using the Caton
Avenue facility then “obtained a flying field in
Fisherville that had been used by Dan Hungerford.” 45
This, of course, suggests an end to the Elmira Aeroplane
Exhibition Corporation activities by that time.
The Elmira Aeroplane Exhibition Corporation owned
at least one aircraft. At a sheriff’s sale in July 1930,
Hungerford purchased a Waco Model 9 airplane (serial
343) manufactured in 1926. Originally owned by J.
Lewis Lovell of Chemung, New York, the plane had
been damaged by windstorm “during winter of
1927–1928 in a southern state. Wings damaged and
fuselage buckled. Shipped to and under repair at
Hungerford Bros garage, Elmira, N.Y. Rebuilt by
Hungerford. Ident. # issued 2/2/29. Held in storage for
repair charges.” On August 14, 1931 Hungerford sold
the craft to the Elmira Aeroplane Exhibition
Corporation. An application was made for an identification
number but this was “not issued due to unclear
title. No further information after 11/24/31”, according
to a National Air and Space Museum listing of historical
aircraft.
Daniel Hungerford owned another registered airplane,
a Curtiss JN-4C (serial C-1401), which he sold,
probably in 1926, to George R. Haight and William
Bussey of Rochester. The plane was destroyed in an
accident in July 1927. 46
Many years later, Daniel and Floyd sold items to the
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport including
a Curtiss JN-4 and a Curtiss Oriole airplane. Whether
the Hungerfords had flown these airplanes is not
known but at that point the aircraft were in poor condition
and incomplete. The fuselage of the Oriole was the
subject of a Hungerford experiment in improved motor
vehicle suspension systems described below.
The Corning Leader in 1961 reported that an extensive
collection of early aircraft components were the gift [sic]
of Floyd [sic] Hungerford to the Glenn H. Curtiss
Museum of Local History. Included were fuselages
from a Curtiss JN-4 (Jenny), Curtiss Oriole (serial 853)
and another plane unidentified although with a Curtiss
OX-5 engine mount. Additional items included an OX-
5 engine, two “Rouen” [Le Rhone?] engines, nine propellers,
Jenny wing struts, Jenny stick control units and
25 or 30 OX-5 cylinders “in wonderful condition”. The
article added that
Mr. Hungerford, an early flier, owned an airport in
Elmira and was employed in repairing planes, etc.
Chapter Two: The Aviation Business 11