05/19/2026
✈️ Introducing “Origins of ACSC” — A New Historical Series
The legacy of the Aero Club of Southern California (ACSC) dates back to the pioneering days of the early 1900s, when aircraft were highly experimental and flying was inherently dangerous.
The Aero Club of America (ACA) was founded in June 1905 to promote and regulate the advancement of aviation in the United States, both as a sport and a commercial endeavor. Before federal oversight existed, the ACA served as the nation’s governing body for aeronautics — establishing pilot regulations, certifying pilots, and issuing the first pilot licenses in the United States.
In October 1905, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) was established in Paris to standardize aviation rules and verify aeronautical records internationally. Aero clubs from eight countries adopted the FAI statutes, including France, the United States (ACA), Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
On May 26, 1908, the Aero Club of California (ACC) — predecessor to today’s ACSC and the second ACA chapter in the country — was organized in the library room of the Los Angeles Times. Its 22 founding members were involved in aircraft manufacturing, flying, and aviation instruction. They elected aviation enthusiast James Slough Zerbe as the organization’s first President.
In May 1909, the ACC organized Southern California’s first aeronautical exhibition at Fiesta Park in downtown Los Angeles, featuring balloon, airplane, and glider exhibits and demonstrations. Public interest in aviation accelerated rapidly, and over time the ACC evolved into the Aero Club of Southern California.
The accompanying video features James Slough Zerbe (1849–1921) and several of his experimental aircraft designs developed between 1909 and 1919, including the Sextuplane, Quintaplane, and the later “Air Sedan.” While none achieved sustained flight, they embodied the ambition, experimentation, and engineering optimism that defined the earliest era of aviation.
This post marks the beginning of our ongoing “Origins of ACSC” historical series, exploring the people, events, and innovations that helped shape both ACSC and Southern California’s aerospace legacy.
