Daniel J. Maloney facts for kids
Daniel John Maloney (born around 1879 – died July 18, 1905) was an American pilot who helped make early flights possible. He was a test pilot who flew a special glider designed by John Joseph Montgomery. In 1905, he made some of the first high-altitude glider flights ever.
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Daniel Maloney's Early Life
Daniel Maloney grew up in the Mission district of San Francisco, California. He started his flying career in the 1890s by doing exciting stunts. He would make parachute jumps and perform trapeze acts from hot-air balloons. These shows happened at places like Glen Park, San Francisco and Idora Park in Oakland. For his acts, he often used stage names like “Professor Lascelles” or “Jerome Lesalles.” He wasn't actually a professor, though! Many of his parachute jumps were from heights of 500 to 800 feet (about 150 to 240 meters) above the ground. By 1904, he became a full-time aerial performer.
Flying with John Montgomery
In early 1905, John Joseph Montgomery hired Daniel Maloney. Montgomery was designing a new type of glider called the Montgomery Aeroplane. Maloney's job was to be the pilot.
Training for Glider Flights
In February 1905, Maloney trained with Montgomery in Aptos, California. They tested the glider without a pilot first. The plan was to launch the glider from high up in the sky. A hot-air balloon would carry the glider and pilot up.
First High-Altitude Flights
On March 16, 1905, they tried this method for the first time. Maloney was the pilot. The glider was carried by a balloon and released at about 800 feet (240 meters). Maloney controlled the glider and landed safely in an apple orchard.
The next day, March 17, Maloney flew again. This time, he was released at about 3,000 feet (915 meters). He guided the glider through turns and landed successfully back at the launch spot. On March 20, 1905, he repeated this amazing flight. He was released at 3,000 feet again and flew for 18 minutes! During these flights, Maloney used controls to warp the wings and move the elevator. This allowed him to steer the glider.
Public Demonstrations
On April 29, 1905, Maloney showed off these flights to the public. This happened at Santa Clara College. The glider was even renamed The Santa Clara to honor the college. A large crowd and reporters watched. Maloney was released at about 4,000 feet (1,220 meters). He glided for about 20 minutes and landed perfectly in a planned spot. This was the first public show of a controlled flying machine in the United States that was heavier than air. Maloney and Montgomery did more shows in the Bay Area that spring. Sometimes it was tricky to get the balloon and glider ready, but they kept trying.
Daniel Maloney's Death
On July 18, 1905, Maloney and Montgomery were doing another show at Santa Clara College. As the balloon was going up, a rope from it hit the glider. This damaged the back part of the glider. When Maloney was released from the balloon high up, he flew for a bit. He made some circles and seemed to have control. Then, he dove the glider to gain speed and pulled up. But the damaged glider broke apart in the air. Daniel Maloney fell and died from his injuries. It's not known if he knew how bad the damage was before he took off.
Remembering Daniel Maloney
- A marker in Aptos, California, shows where the glider tests happened in March 1905.
- An obelisk (a tall stone monument) stands at Santa Clara University. It was put there by the people of Santa Clara, California. It marks the spot of Maloney’s public flight in April 1905.
- In San Jose, California, Daniel Maloney Drive is named after him. There is also a school called John J. Montgomery Elementary School there.
