John C. Burkhart

1919 newspaper photo of Captain Burkhart, recently returned to Portland, Oregon, after World War I service in the Division of Military Aeronautics in Washington, D.C. John Conner Burkhart (1880–1926) was an aviation pioneer in the U.S. state of Oregon. Early life and education Burkhart was born in Albany, Oregon, a "member of one of Oregon's pioneer families".

Burkhart graduated in 1909, returned to Oregon, and "spent subsequent years experimenting and studying the present machines", the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote.

Pioneering of aircraft and first flights in Oregon In 1910, Burkhart, who "probably knew more about aeroplanes than any other Oregonian at that time," built the first airplane in Oregon, and flew it in April. He and his mechanic and William Crawford built new airplanes in 1911 and 1912, and flew them at fairs and other events around the state.

His 1912 aircraft was a biplane on the model of the Wright brothers’, with control surfaces like the ones developed by Glenn Curtiss. The wings were double-covered with cloth. The structure was of spruce ribs and spars, except for ash spars in the lower center section. The 35-foot wingspan had a total wing area of 364 square feet. "Small skids have recently been placed under the wing tips. These have saved harm to the wings many times and are of value," the Inquirer wrote. "An 8-cylinder engine of 60 horsepower drives direct, anti-clockwise, a 7 by 4.5-foot propellor of the builder's own make." Weighing about 750 pounds empty, the aircraft could fly about 45 mph. Marriage On June 6, 1913, Burkhart married Mabel Goss, a Portlander, in a family-only ceremony. "The bride is popular socially and in church circles and will be one of the feted matrons of the summer", reported the Albany Democrat, while "Mr. Burkhart is well known in business circles".

Army service During World War I, Burkhart joined the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps—the U.S. Army's air arm. In 1917, he was stationed in Washington, D.C., at the information and technical section of what would become the Division of Military Aeronautics. He and Mabel took up residence in a Dupont Circle apartment building. He served two months as the engineer officer, First Provisional Wing, at Hazelhurst Field on Long Island. Promoted to captain, he was waiting for overseas orders when the armistice was signed in 1918. Return to civilian life After the war, Burkhart resumed his work as a commercial photographer who traveled around the state to shoot portraits.

In 1920, he and Mabel left Portland for Santa Barbara, California, in search of better health. Death Burkhart fell seriously ill in late 1925 and died in Santa Barbara on May 16, 1926.