Please note that some brands are listed separately in the list below. The a1 triad which curtiss himself had test flown on feb. One week later, on january 26, 1911, curtiss personally flew the first hydroplane seaplane for the u. May 8, 2016 nc4 curtiss, first transatlantic flight in 1919.
The curtiss aviation book 1912 by glenn hammond curtiss. For example, lockheed and lockheed martin are considered two separate listings in the military factory. Aviation history unfolded at curtiss flying school. Aviation pioneer charts curtisss breakneck course across two continents, north america and europe, setting speed and distance records, experimenting with military applications, always striving for a safer, faster airplane. If there is already a movie that has been made about glenn curtiss, would someone please tell me about it. Dedicated to the accomplishments of pioneer aviator and father of naval aviation, glenn curtiss.
Its fuselage still shows patches covering battle damage sustained in. Curtiss s pilot license in 1904, curtiss became a supplier of engines for the california aeronaut tom baldwin. Glenn curtiss motorcycle national air and space museum. He began his career as a bicycle racer and builder before moving on to motorcycles. In that same year, baldwins california arrow, powered by a curtiss 9 hp vtwin motorcycle engine, became the first successful dirigible in america.
Navy curtiss nc4 flying boat became the first aircraft to successfully cross the atlantic ocean. It covers nearly 350,000 square feet of exhibit space spread over the 37 acres of the museums grounds and is one of the mostvisited museums in florida. The exhibit features the museums reproduction of the 1911 curtiss a1 triad, the u. Fickel aloft to prove that guns could be fired from an airplane. Glenn curtiss is recognized as the father of naval aviation. Chancevought and the naval aircraft factory also produced floatplanes that served the us navy in wwii. The life and times of glenn hammond curtiss aviation history. The national naval aviation museums must see list the. Ellyson was the lone lieutenant ordered to report to the glenn curtiss aviation camp at north island, san diego on dec. He trained the first navy pilots and built their first aircraft, the a1 triad amphibian. Curtisss interests were not restricted just to vehicles of transportation. Curtiss aeroplane and motor company was an american aircraft manufacturer formed in 1916 by glenn hammond curtiss. The curtisswright corporation is an american, global diversified product manufacturer and service provider for the commercial, industrial, defense, and energy markets. Curtiss, glenn hammond national aviation hall of fame.
Glenn curtiss historical records and family trees myheritage. Before the main parade event, the san diego air and space. In 1919, after curtiss left the firm, a curtiss nc4 flying boat, flown by u. Curtiss museum purchased the remnants of 3 p40 warhawks, one of which is being restored to display condition. Dec 30, 20 when the airplanes of the curtiss flying school first took to the skies over newport news point on dec. Glenn curtiss was a remarkable man for his contributions to motorsports and aviation. Glenn hammond curtiss, the renowned pioneer in aviation, was born 21 may 1878 in hammondsport, n. Centennial of naval aviation exhibit at glenn curtiss museum. Located in pensacola florida, the national naval aviation museum is described as the largest naval aviation museum in the world, and one of the mostvisited museums in florida. Apr 17, 2011 a special exhibit honoring the centennial of naval aviation will open at the glenn h. A final high point in curtiss s aviation career came in 1919, when the u.
Nov 05, 2014 their aeroplane bungalow had been built and owned by none other than glenn curtiss, whose curtiss school of naval aviation had put coronado on the international map in 1911 as the training ground for naval aviators such as lt. Theodore ellyson, the first aviator to take off from a navy ships flight deck and named u. Nas north island, california, proclaims itself the birthplace of naval aviation owing to the fact that lieutenant theodore g. Glenn curtiss was born circa 1921, at birth place, ohio, to carl b curtiss and pauline curtiss. For aviation pioneer glenn curtiss, the finger lakes region of upstate new york held a special appeal.
The curtiss nc navy curtiss, nicknamed nancy boat or nancy was a flying boat used by the united states navy from 1918 through the early 1920s. Curtiss, a multimillionaire, known as the father of naval aviation. Glenn curtis and the birth of naval aviation is the biography of glenn curtis and how he made that happen. Glenn hammond curtiss wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Curtiss was a noted motorcycle builder and racer, who built and produced engines for airships as early as 1906. Nov 01, 2007 glenn hammond curtiss was the most important figure in the development of naval aviation if not aviation, period in the united states. After significant commercial success in the teens and 20s, it merged with the wright aeronautical in 1929 to form curtiss wright corporation. In 1910 and 1911, civilian pilot eugene ely flew curtiss aircraft while making the first take off from a naval ship and then the first landing aboard ship.
May 22, 2015 before achieving fame in aeronautics, glenn curtiss started his career with motorcycles. Jun 10, 20 this post was contributed by a community member. In august 2011, the restoration shop at the glenn h. Ellyson, who in 1910 received orders to report to the curtiss aviation camp at north island, california, to begin receiving flight instruction under the tutelage of early aeroplane thats what they called them back them designer glenn curtiss. Curtiss, a young entrepreneur from hammondsport, n. High on curtiss list was to attract interest from the navy to purchase curtiss aircraft and he flew the worlds first seaplane from the waters of spanish bight between north island and coronado. It earned glenn curtiss the title of the father of naval aviation. There are a total of 39 curtiss company chronological aircraft list product entries in the military factory. A brief accounting of the hellrider glenn curtiss and his. Both a thrillseeker and a mechanical genius, he began his career as a bicycle maker and then went on to become the worlds numberone manufacturer of highperformance motorcycles. Aviators from both the army and navy returned again and again to north island until the skies filled with military aircraft and coronado was the site for a bevy of aviation firsts and world records.
Two of the aircraft were originally recovered from a florida swamp just off the suwannee river after a midair collision in 1945, while the third crashed at st. The national naval aviation museums must see list the sextant. Before achieving fame in aeronautics, glenn curtiss started his career with motorcycles. Glenn hammond curtiss and california aviation by steve clugston. Curtiss began his career in the bicycle business, earning fame as one of the leading cycle racers in western new york state. Glenn curtiss taught theodore ellyson how to fly on coronados north island too. Curtisswright came into existence on july 5, 1929, the result of a merger of 12 companies associated with curtiss aeroplane and motor company of buffalo, new york, and wright aeronautical of dayton, ohio, and was headquartered in buffalo, new york. Fostering both water flyers and shipboard landing, he became the father of naval aviation. The early aviation community began to seek out curtiss because of his growing reputation for designing powerful, lightweight motorcycle engines. When the airplanes of the curtiss flying school first took to the skies over newport news point on dec. Curtiss museum, located within the finger lakes in hammondsport, ny, is more then just an aviation museum on aircraft history it also includes a significant motorcycle collection of early motorcycles including vintage antique motorcycles and hammondsport history. Curtiss wright was the designer of 3 of the 4 types of scout planes that served aboard us warships in wwii, a tribute to the american aviation pioneer and father of the us floatplane, glenn curtiss.
As a lifelong history buff and aviation nerd, the collection of rare aircraft at the glenn h. The family of theodore gordon ellyson, naval aviator no. Racing bicycles in the local area led to a passion to go faster and, eventually, he produced lightweight, powerful engines that garnered the attention of captain thomas baldwin. Rare early cyanotype photo 1899 glenn curtiss on bicycle pre.
Glenn hammond curtiss may 21, 1878 july 23, 1930 was an american aviation pioneer and a founder of the u. Doolittle, air service, united states army, with the curtiss r3c2 schneider trophy winner, 1925. See more ideas about glenn curtiss, aviation history, hammondsport. Glenn hammond curtiss was the most important figure in the development of naval aviation if not aviation, period in the united states. Army and navy, and, during the years leading up to world war i, his experiments with. Ellyson was the lone lieutenant ordered to report to the glenn curtiss aviation. He began his career as a bicycle racer and builder before moving on. Aviation pioneer charts curtiss s breakneck course across two continents, north america and europe, setting speed and distance records, experimenting with military applications, always striving for a safer, faster airplane. Rooted in american history, they are the corporate descendants of the wright brothers, the fathers of flight, and mr. From makeshift gliders and the first shipboard landing to supersonic jets and unmanned aerial vehicles, naval aviation has come a long way in its more than 100 years of existence. In 1906 he designed his first v8 engine in response to several requests from early aeronautical experimenters. Curtisswright was the designer of 3 of the 4 types of scout planes that served aboard us warships in wwii, a tribute to the american aviation pioneer and father of the us floatplane, glenn curtiss. Opened more than a half century ago, the national naval aviation museum offers a unique blend of past and present in telling the story of aviation in the united states navy, marine corps, and coast guard. Curtiss produced 10,000 aircraft during that war, and more than 100 in a single week.
It was curtiss pushers in 1910 and 1911, that demonstrated capability to take off and land on a ship, leading to the development of aircraft carriers. Curtiss museum by terry dunn on march 21, 2018 at 8. Rare early cyanotype photo 1899 glenn curtiss on bicycle. Ms418 curtiss early aviation photographs collection. Ellyson, naval aviator number 1, received his initial training there. The life and times of glenn hammond curtiss by david langley glenn h. Glenn hammond curtiss first flight society aviation. Opened more than a half century ago, the national naval aviation. Lieutenant james harold doolittle, air service, united states army, won the coupe daviation maritime jacques schneider commonly called the schneider trophy when he placed first flying his curtiss r3c2 float. Centennial of naval aviation kicks off in san diego. He systematically earned himself the titles of the father of the american aviation industry and the father of naval aviation. Curtiss museum in hammondsport, curtiss hometown, located at the south end of keuka pronounced cueka lake. Glenn hammond curtiss, pioneer aviator and leading american manufacturer of aircraft by the time of the united statess entry into world war i. Located on board historic naval air station nas pensacola, the navys first air station, the museum sits in close proximity to the white.
The glenn curtiss collection of early aviation photographs contains 174 photographs and photographic postcards showing the development of glenn curtiss aviation and aircraft construction careers between 1908 and 1915. A contemporary of the wright brothers, glenn curtiss used a build and test approach for his contributions to aviation. Curtiss was fascinated with getting off the water, says trafford doherty, executive director of the glenn h. As the navys first naval air station, nas pensacola, florida, is known as the cradle of naval aviation. Glenn hammond curtiss 1878 1930 was an american aviation pioneer and a founder of the u. Naval aviation the national naval aviation museum in. Navy pilots, made the first crossing of the atlantic ocean. In 1908, he became involved in the aerial experiment association aea, a group founded by alexander graham bell. Fickel put two 30 caliber bullets into a ground target from 100 feet away. Glenn was posthumously added to the motorsports hall of fame of america in the air racing category and the national inventors hall of fame. As early as 1904, he began to manufacture engines for airships. In this lesson, learn why glenn curtiss left such a legacy in each of these areas.
From those successful flights, the navy department. It was curtiss pushers in 1910 and 1911, that demonstrated capability to take off and land on a ship, leading to. These two historic installations have endured and stand as hallmarks of. Glenn hammond curtiss may 21, 1878 july 23, 1930 was an american aviation and motorcycling pioneer, and a founder of the u. Cw is a diversified, multinational provider of highly engineered, technologically advanced products and services.
Created in 1929 from the consolidation of curtiss, wright, and various supplier companies, by the end of world war ii it was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the united states, supplying whole aircraft in large numbers to. Somebody had to be first and in the case of naval aviation, it was lieutenant theodore g. By hill goodspeed, historian, national naval aviation museum in 1939, president. Glenn hammond curtiss, born may 21, 1878, hammondsport, n. Seated in this seaplane are realistic figures of aviation pioneer and hammondsport native, glenn. Diego and then naval air station north island for aviation training under the legendary pilot and aircraft designer glenn curtiss.
In 1921, he essentially left the aviation business and moved to florida to become a highly. He completed his training in april of the following year, and. Naval air systems command in accordance with navy publication and. A final high point in curtisss aviation career came in 1919, when the u. Curtiss s interests were not restricted just to vehicles of transportation. Curtiss retired from the aircraft business in the 1920s but his planes were the main stock of the famous barnstormers and air. Curtiss courted the navy for years before he finally convinced them of the potential of naval aviation. Family of navys first pilot joins in 100year flight. Their aeroplane bungalow had been built and owned by none other than glenn curtiss, whose curtiss school of naval aviation had put coronado on the international map in 1911 as the training ground for naval aviators such as lt. A special exhibit honoring the centennial of naval aviation will open at the glenn h.
Navy to demonstrate that airplanes could take off from and land aboard ships at sea. He began his career as a bicycle then motorcycle builder and racer, later also manufacturing engines for airships as early as 1906. He set many aeronautical records and designed several types of planes, including the navy curtiss flying boats which in 1919 were the first aircraft to cross the atlantic. Glenn hammond curtiss american engineer britannica. Curtisss pilot license in 1904, curtiss became a supplier of engines for the california aeronaut tom baldwin. Glenn hammond curtiss will always remain one of the true pioneers in all of aviation.
716 712 560 198 1167 280 129 688 10 861 700 354 1308 873 808 898 933 1283 1366 396 680 967 1340 582 533 1508 366 530 839 1444 875 1090 1375 812 749 425 1294 554 74 578 113 1179 1300 1333 419 808