Original photo caption:

Department of commerce approval has been given the San Diego built Solar plane, Edmund T. Price, president of the aircraft concern, announced recently. Three years of experimenting were necessary before the eight-seat transport cabin plane was submitted to department of commerce tests. It is powered with a 450 hp Pratt and Whitney motor.

Original photo caption:

FLIER TO TRY LONG HOP ACROSS PACIFIC.

Herbert Pattridge, world war flier, who attempted a flight last year from New York to Buenos Aires, hopes to take off in September with an unnamed Japanese navigator on a non-stop hop from Los Angeles, California, 6,000 miles to Tokyo, trying for prizes totaling $72,500. Pattridge will fly a single-enginned, all-metal Solar sesquiplane, the only one of its make in existaence. He will carry 1300 gallons of gasoline. Pattridge is at present supervising changes in the plane at San Diego, Cal. If successful, Pattridge will receive an additional $12,500 for flying with a Japanese, who is said to be of nobility. His name has not yet been revealed.

A view of Pattridge's all-metal Solar sesquiplane--the only one of its make in existence.

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02/28/2007. Remarks by Dan Shumaker: "After receiving its CofA the aircraft's registration was changed to NC258V. In 1931 it was exported to Mexico, registered as XB-AFK and was destroyed in a crash in 1936."