Martin Curtiss-type

In 1905, young Martin founded an automobile repair shop. Like many other early aero pioneers, he used the profits from this practical endeavour to support his addiction to the airplane. In 1908, he rented an abandoned Methodist church in Santa Ana, Cali­fornia and built a pusher biplanepowered by a Ford engine with which he taught himself to fly. In August 1909 Glenn L. Martin flew the Curtiss-type plane at Santa Ana, California. One year and $3,000 later, this budding high priest of aviation became the first to fly in California. Glenn continued flying, making fund‑raising exhibition hops.