California aviator Weldon B. Cooke teamed up with E. W. Roberts of the Roberts Motor Company, Frank Frey, James Flynn, Sr., and James Flynn, Jr. to found the Cooke Aeroplane Company. Although the "Irene," depicted in this image, suffered from design and construction flaws, she became famous locally when Cooke raced her against C. B. Lockwood's motorboat "Chinook." Cooke attained speeds of 35 miles per hour in the water and 50 miles per hour in the air. Lockwood's fast motor boat reached a speed of 23 miles per hour.