Our Aircraft’s History
Built in 1908 by Canton native William H. Martin the Martin Glider was one of the first mono-wing designs in aviation. Its first flight was on January 12, 1909, during which it flew at a height of roughly 20 feet, with an air speed of 20 miles per hour. Because Martin’s wife Almina weighed less than he, she was the glider’s first pilot.
Power was provided by everything from “Billy” the horse to a donated Ford automobile. The glider eventually made more than 100 successful flights.
Here is a photo of William and Almina Martin
An article by Lily Birkhimer, Digital Projects Coordinator at the Ohio History Connection on the Martin Glider.
The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum has graciously put the Martin Glider on indefinite loan to MAPS Air Museum as of February 16, 2002.
