On this day, in 1911, Fed Wiseman was probably waiting for the rains to stop and the race track soil at Kenilworth Park to dry out in order for him to make a return flight from Petaluma, where he made most of his practice flights in 1910., to Santa Rosa. He was learning how to fly the first practical airplane built in California.

This coming Thursday, February 17th, at 11:00. a.m., Mike Glose, former Petaluma Airport Manager, will deliver a slide talk presentation in the Community Room of our local Branch Library , 100 Fairgrounds Drive, not far from where Fred took off from around 12:30 p.m., 100 years ago. After Mike’s talk, attendees may walk to the spot where Wiseman’s actually took off.

In addition, souvenir stamps, postcards, and historic envelopes may be purchased for mailing to family and friends. All mail addressed and returned by 2:00 p.m. will be hand-cancelled by the Post Office … “Petaluma, CA. Feb. 17, 2011.”

The next day (Friday, Feb. 18th), the Wiseman Walk group will leave the Fairgrounds at 6:30 a.m. for their journey on land to his landing place in Santa Rosa. Then, on Saturday, Feb. 19th, from 11:00 a.m. to Noon, at the Petaluma Airport, PAPA (the Petaluma Area Pilots Association) will conduct a special celebration program, that (weather permitting) will include a reenactment flight . For additional information, go to http://www.fredwiseman.org