James Cairn Mars | |
|---|---|
 Mars c. 1910 | |
| Born | March 8, 1875 |
| Died | July 25, 1944(1944-07-25) (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Aviator, circus performer, airport operator, real estate |
| Known for | Barnstormer, first pilot to fly an aircraft inArkansas,Hawaii and in the Far East |
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James Cairn Mars (March 8, 1875 - July 25, 1944), also knownBud Mars and theCurtiss Daredevil, was anaviation pioneer. He was the eleventh pilot licensed in the United States. As a balloonist, he was a student ofThomas Scott Baldwin, and as an airplane pilot, ofGlenn Curtiss.[1]
Mars was born on March 8, 1875, inGrand Haven, Michigan.
On December 18, 1910, Mars made the longest plane glide on record when hiscarburetor froze at 4,000 feet (1,200 m) during an aviation meet inFresno, California. His usual stunt glides were from 1,000 feet (300 m). "For the first time ... the band did not play on the descent of a birdman." He glided in a half-mile spiral to land safely.Glenn Curtiss also performed.[2]
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On December 31, 1910, Mars made the first airplane flight in Hawaii on a Curtiss B18 biplane.[3][4]
He was credited in 1911 with being the first pilot to bring aviation to theFar East,[5] although flights had been made in both Japan and Vietnam in late 1910. Mars was the first to fly in both the Philippines and Korea.
While in Japan, he tookHirohito, futureEmperor of Japan, on his first airplane flight.[1]
Mars died on July 25, 1944, inLos Angeles, California.[1]
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