1. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org ASPI Board of Trustees Meeting 10 Jun 2011 PAF Aerospace Museum Library, CJVAB, Pasay City

2. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Site of the First Powered Flight in the Philippines The site of the First Powered Flight in the Philippines is the subject of much speculation. This is due to fact that the documentary evidence to the exact spot is still lacking. This presentation is an analysis of the pictorial evidence of the people, places and publications surrounding the historic event.

3. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Site of the First Powered Flight in the Philippines American Aviators, James C. "Bud" Mars and Capt Thomas Baldwin's flew their plane/(s?) as the main attraction for the Manila Carnival which was held from February 21 to March 4, 1911. The Carnival is described as:  “…no other event has piqued the interest and stirred a nation’s imagination more than the fabled Manila Carnivals. Held from 1908-1939, the 2-week fair was organized as a goodwill event to celebrate harmonious U.S.-Philippine relations and to showcase our commercial, industrial and agricultural progress. Spectacular parades, lavish shows, firework displays and the crowning of the Manila Carnival Queen highlighted the "greatest annual event in the Orient".

4. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org The Manila Carnival Tower “As part of a Pacific exhibition tour, aviators James C. “Bud” Mars and Capt. Thomas Baldwin flew their bi-planes 5,000 feet above the carnival tower, to the sheer delight of the crowds. For his daring, record-breaking performance, J.C. Mars was awarded a medal and valuable gifts.” - The Manila Carnival blogspot

5. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org The “tower” Bud Mars in Skylark over Manila Carnival grounds Photo of Bud Mars over Manila Carnival spectators. Note the prominent steel tower in the left of picture.

6. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Manila Carnival entrance The Manila Carnival tower and the “Torre Electrica del Meralco.” The two towers look uncannily similar or are the same?

7. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org The Meralco tower by1925

8. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Manila Carnival grounds, Feb 5, 1931. Note the Carnival tower.

9. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org The Postcard A post card dated March 2(?) 1911 chronicles the flight of “Bud” Mars over the carnival. Some features captured in the background may again offer some clues as to the area over flown by the intrepid aviators.

10. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Post card photo of the first powered flight in the Philippines. Note the peculiar skyline, especially the smoke stack and the roof tops. Roof tops in the typical hip roof style Smoke stack

11. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Photo of the Rizal monument taken from the Manila Hotel c. 1920-1930’s. The Manila Hotel was built in 1909 and opened in 1912. Roof tops in the typical hip roof style Smoke stack Rizal Monument

12. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org A closer view of the area Hip roof style roof tops Smoke stack Belfry or watch tower

13. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Belfry or watch tower Hip roof style roof tops

14. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org At the “Airstrip” “The Baldwin-Mars party had two fliers, Capt Thomas S. Baldwin and Mars, two agents, three mechanics, Tod Shriver and his wife. Mrs Mars. It was December when they left San Francisco, an advance agent having gone ahead to pave the way. Capt Baldwin turned back at Japan, but Mars made the whole circle, flying in all more than 250 times for the most part in countries that had never witnessed an aeroplane flight before.” The NY Times, June 19, 1911

15. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Photo of James C. "Bud" Mars in the controls of the Shriver skylark. Note the signature beret hat.

16. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org A more “complete” photo of James C. “Bud” Mars, pilot for the first well-documented flight in the state of Arkansas, at the controls of his Curtiss biplane Skylark with his wife; circa 1910.

17. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Flag Pole Photo of the Shriver skylark with James C. "Bud" Mars and entourage of support crew. The New York Times Bud Mars with beret

18. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Key Features Church belfry or sentry tower? Flag Pole, without the flag On lookers on roof top Photo of the same area, presumably after take off because of the on lookers in the roof top.

19. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Legaspi Monument, Luneta c. 1900-1910 Flagpole

20. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Flagpole Legaspi Monument Smokestack Church belfry

21. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Wallace Field

22. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Rizal Monument Legaspi Monument Church

23. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Rizal Monument Army-Navy Club Manila Hotel New Luneta Wallace Field Hoppodrome? Rizal Monument

24. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Rizal Monument Hippodrome? Legaspi Monument

25. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Rizal Monument Army-Navy Club Legaspi Monument Wallace Field Hippodrome

26. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Rizal Monument Army-Navy Club Manila Carnival grounds, Feb 5, 1931. Note the Carnival tower.

27. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Rizal MonumentArmy-Navy Club

28. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Conclusion Exact location of the take-off point for the Bud Mars flight of Feb 21, 1911 still needs more documentary evidence and further analysis. Strong candidates are:  Police station along P. Burgos (adjacent to Wallace Field)  Along calle Bonifacio (adjacent to the Sta. Lucia barracks) Location of the Manila Carnival tower is crucial and is supported by pictorial evidence. There is a need to establish where the Carnival was held in 1911 although a strong reference was that it was held in Wallace field or today’s Agrifina circle near the Dept of Tourism.

29. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Finally, a page of history from the National Geographic Magazine c. 1930s, the predecessor of our modern day aviation hobbyists!

30. www.aviationsocietyphilippines.org Thank You!