The aeronautics displays at the Exposition held in St. Louis in the fall of 1904 were largely organized by Octave Chanute. As no one else came forwart to show any heavier-than-air craft, William Avery suggested they enter a biplane glider. The new glider was based on the original design but employed changes that were developed by others in their aircraft, including the Wright brothers.The main change was a different wing profile.

The glider was eventually shipped to Jacques Balsan in France. The picture on the left is possibly that original glider, but in any case is a replica of the Exposition glider.

The above photo, and the one to the right, were scanned from an old, February 22, 1911 issue of the English The Aero and show William Avery having been launched into a glide. To launch the glider from a level field, Chanute devised a launching apparatus in which the pilot, holding the glider, stood on a small rolling dolly on a moveble rail track. A towrope from the glider was attached to a large drum 400 feet away. A 10 horsepower electric motor rotated the drum at a rapid rate, pulling the glider forward and launching it like a kite. When the pilot was safely airbourne, he released the towrope.

Due to difficulties getting this electric winch going, Avery at first used man-power to get bungee launched on 23 September. First flown this way on October 6th, Avery had the winch ready and used it for the first time, ascendinged 70 feet and glided up to 300-350 feet. He made daily demonstrations until October 25th until an accident befell him. The towrope, which had been frayed being used in a kite-flying contest, broke, and Avery's fall so sprained his ankle that he had to withdraw from the glider competition. But the glider was barely damaged. As soon as Avery could walk withoiut crutches, he fixed the glider which was then shipped in February to Jacques Balsan in France.