The Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first airplane designed, built and flown in Delaware with an art competition in early autumn.
Sponsored by the Aero Club of Wilmington, the craft, which they named "The Delaplane," flew at the city's Wawaset Park on Oct. 21, 1910.
The aircraft was built by Wilmingtonian Robbie Seidelinger of spruce with the exception of metal fittings and wires. Wings and control surfaces were covered with cotton fabric and painted with dope for strength and tension. The flying club engaged Eddie Bloomfield to pilot the maiden hop. The Delaplane rose smartly, and spectators jumped with joy.
The historic event will be celebrated with a DAHF art competition that will award cash prizes for original concepts of the Delaplane in two categories: two-dimensional painting and drawing, and three-dimensional models and sculpture in any medium. The maximum size is 36 inches.
There will be two awards with a minimum of $300 each for youths under age 18, two awards with a minimum of $300 each for adults, and a $1,000 grand prize for best-of-show, said DAHF trustee Michael D. Brock, chairman of the competition.
Participation is limited to residents of the First State and DAHF trustees and family members are not eligible, he said.
Deadline for submission of entries is Sept. 2. Entries should be delivered to Hardcastle’s Gallery, 622 Newark Shopping Center, Newark.
Judging will be performed by panels of DAHF trustees. Winning entries will be displayed Sept. 25 at the annual honors banquet of the DAHF in Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware in Newark.
In mid-1911, the Delaplane succumbed to fire when its "hangar" was struck by lightning, and the flying club disbanded.
Seventeen years later, Giuseppe Bellanca reversed Delaware aviation history: he set up shop in New Castle and became one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers.
For further details on the art competition, please visit website www.DAHF.org.
