Aviator Charles F. Willard at the controls of his Curtiss biplane at the Dominguez Hills Air Meet, 1910

Photograph of aviator Charles F. Willard at the controls of his Curtiss biplane at the Dominguez Hills Air Meet, 1910. Willard is seated at center and is seen in profile as he looks to the right. He is holding the steering wheel for the aircraft in front of him, which won the "Scientific American" cup. The two canvas covered wings of the aircraft are at left, and mounted between them is a small engine attached to a pusher propeller. The plane is on the ground inside a massive tent, which is visible overhead. According to Willard, "the machine was called the Golden Flyer and was built for the Aeronautical Society of New York City by Glenn Curtiss. It was the first Curtiss airplane made. It was ordered by the Society to educate the public to air flight and the first to make public flights in the U.S. Also was first commercial plane purchased in U.S.". Photoprint reads: "Mr. Willard came into the office the early part of January 1960 -- the year of the fiftieth anniversary of the first air meet in the United States --1910 at Dominguez Field, near Long Beach".