Glenn Curtiss: Pioneer of FlightGlenn Curtiss (1878–1930) was a self-taught aeronautical engineer, a self-made industrialist, and one of the first airplane pilots, the model for “Tom Swift.” C. R. Roseberry’s biography begins with Curtiss’s years in Hammondsport, New York, his experiments with designing and learning to fly his own airplanes, and his many “firsts” in aviation history. Establishing one of the first aviation schools, Curtiss also developed a highly successful aviation company and designed one of the most popular early American planes—the Curtiss JN-4 (the “Jenny”). More than just a biography, this is also a well-documented history of the development of aviation and the key figures associated with it during the first three crucial decades of this century. Through an examination of Curtiss’s dealings with people such as Alexander Graham Bell, his original partner, and Wilbur and Orville Wright, his most important rivals, Roseberry provides insight into the overall development of flight in America. Aviation enthusiasts, historians, those interested in American technology and industry, and all who enjoy a good story will welcome this book. |
Contents
SPEED CRAVING | 1 |
THE HELLRIDER | 18 |
A DALLIANCE WITH DIRIGIBLES | 35 |
CHANUTE AND THE BROTHERS | 59 |
TO GET INTO THE AIR | 67 |
RED WING | 83 |
WHITE WING | 96 |
JUNE BUG | 102 |
RETURN TO THE RIVER | 261 |
THE EXHIBITIONISTS | 281 |
WATER FLYING | 308 |
FEUD WITH THE WRIGHTS | 332 |
ATLANTIC FANTASY | 363 |
FLYING THE LANGLEY | 381 |
A FORTUNE OF WAR | 394 |
ATLANTIC REALITY | 411 |
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Aerial Experiment Association Aero Club aeroboat aerodrome Aeronautic Society aeroplane ailerons aircraft airplane airship Albany Alexander Graham Bell Army automobile aviation Baddeck balloon Beachey Beinn Bhreagh Bell's bicycle Bishop Blériot Buffalo Casey Baldwin Chanute City contract Curtiss company Cygnet Dayton dirigible Ellyson engine exhibition Fanciulli feet flew flight flown flyer flying boat flying machine G. H. Curtiss Glenn Curtiss Glenn H glider Gordon Bennett Governors Island Hamilton Hammondsport Henry Kleckler Herring-Curtiss Company Herring's hydroplane infringement June Bug Keuka Lake kite landing Langley LANSING CALLAN later Lena letter Lieutenant Lincoln Beachey manufacture McCurdy meet miles monoplane motor motorcycle naval Navy Nova Scotia Orville Wright patent pilot plane plant Porte prize propeller race racer reported Rheims rudder Selfridge ship Signal Corps Silver Dart Smithsonian speed takeoff Tom Baldwin took trial Trophy Washington wheel Wheeler wind Wright brothers Wright Company wrote York