Wallace Tillinghast

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Wallace Tillinghast, was a prominent Worcester Massachusetts businessman, who in the year of December 1909, announced the creation of the first, "heavier-than-air" flying craft. He explained that he had done more than one-hundred flights with this machine under the cover of darkness. The winter months between December 12th, 1909 to late january and early february, were filled with so-called, "sightings" of the air craft purportedly designed by tillinghast and two unnamed mechanics. He stated that he began flying under cover of darkness two months prior to his announcement, his first flight being between Worcester, Massachusetts, and New York City, New York. Where Tillinghast and his crew circled the statue of liberty. At one point the engines were said to have shut off, and the contraption glided through the air for forty-eight minutes whilst the mechanics made repairs. After which, they made their way back to Worcester, by way of a route taking them through Boston.

http://www.jstor.org/view/00284866/ap050298/05a00060/0" Information on Wallace Tillinghast's Expedition by means of a news article.