Unlocking the Sky (23 page)

Stockbridge, Frank Parker. “Glenn Curtiss: Air Pilot No. 1.”
Popular Science Monthly
(March 1927) 20–132.

Studer, Clara.
Sky Storming Yankee: The Life of Glenn Curtiss.
New York: Stackpole Sons, 1937.

Veal, C. B. “Manly, The Engineer.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, Michigan, January 10, 1939.
SAE Transactions,
(April 1939): 145–58.

Winters, Nancy.
Man Flies: The Story of Alberto Santos-Dumont.
Hopewell, N.J.: Ecco Press, 1997.

Wohl, Robert.
A Passion for Wings: Aviation and the Western Imagination, 1908–1918.
New Haven: Yale University Press, 1994.

Worrel, Rodney K. “The Wright Brothers’ Pioneer Patent.”
American Bar Association Journal
(October 1979): 1512–18.

Wraga, William.
Official History of the Curtiss-Wright Company.
Online at: www.curtisswright.com.

Zahm, Albert F.
Aeronautical Papers 1885–1945.
Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame, 1950.

———. “Some Memories of Mr. Curtiss.”
National Aeronautic Review
(August 1930).

———. “The First Man-Carrying Aeroplane Capable of Sustained Free Flight: Langley’s Success as a Pioneer in Aviation.” In
Smithsonian Report 1914,
217–22. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1915.

———.
Aerial Navigation: A Popular Treatise on the Growth of Air Craft and on Aeronautical Meterology.
New York: Appleton, 1911.

My foremost debt of gratitude goes to my family. Books make greater and more insidious demands than other writing projects—and not just upon their authors; my wife, Laura, and children, Elise and Benjamin, supported and sustained me throughout my extended flights into the early twentieth century.

Katinka Matson, my agent, strongly encouraged me to experiment with the narrative form and backed the project generously throughout with her time and energy. I owe special thanks to Terry Karten, my editor at HarperCollins, for her commitment to the book from the outset and her patience in seeing it through. She and her associate, Andrew Proctor, offered many astute and welcome editorial suggestions.

A special note of thanks goes to Marc Miller who—possibly topping his invaluable help with my previous two books—worked his editorial magic on my early drafts. Marc, my longtime friend and former editor, was the first to read these pages and his keen editorial eye and copious corrections proved indispensable.

I also want to acknowledge my extended family for their many kindnesses, especially my father, Roy Shulman, for his interest and unflagging moral support. Heartfelt thanks to: John and Mickey Reed, Sarah Shulman and Tom Garrett, Jill Shulman, Karen Reed, Molly Reed, Christine Reed, Roberta Reed, and Lisa and Peter Crozier. Thanks also to my late
grandmother Lena Wolf, who sadly passed away before she had the chance to see this book in print. All these members of my extended family contributed directly or indirectly to making this book possible.

Finally, I owe a special debt to several precious archives and the people who staff them. Most important are Chris Geiselmann and Kirk House at the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York. These two made their rich archive available to me in its entirety. They offered their wisdom about surviving Curtiss materials, gave me open access to their copy machine, and later helped with photo reproduction and fact checking. Their museum is a small, out-of-the-way gem for those interested in the early history of aviation, housing everything from complete sets of the
AEA Bulletin,
to a vast cache of memorabilia donated by many Curtiss associates. I thank them both immensely.

By contrast, the staff at the Smithsonian’s archive of the National Air and Space Museum at the Garber Center in Suitland, Maryland, brooked no browsing, offered no card catalog, and otherwise put up small roadblocks to research at every turn. Nonetheless, the Smithsonian archive—doubtless the world’s single most important aviation repository—was a gold mine of documentary material for this project. In particular, the chance to peruse Alexander Graham Bell’s voluminous scrapbooks and Charles Walcott’s personal photographic record of the reconstruction of the Langley aerodrome in their original, leather-bound binders did as much to transport me into Glenn Curtiss’s story as any other single experience.

I benefited, too, from access to the excellent collections at MIT, Boston College, Stanford University, Cornell University, as well as the Hammondsport Public Library, the Boston Public Library system, and numerous web-based collections on early aviation. It is not an exaggeration to say that these repositories sustain a vital link to our history. Without them—and generous public access to them—books like this one could never be written.

Note: Entries in this index, carried over verbatim from the print edition of this title, are unlikely to correspond to the pagination of any given e-book reader. However, entries in this index, and other terms, may be easily located by using the search feature of your e-book reader.

Abbot, Charles G., 226–27

Ader, Clement, 98, 144
AEA Bulletin
, 133

Aerial Experiment Association (AEA), 145

death of Tom Selfridge and, 146

formation of, 113, 117–21

glider
Cygnet
developed by, 129–30

June Bug
aircraft developed by, 122–29, 137–43

move to Hammondsport, NY, 130–31

Red Wing
biplane developed by, 131–32

White Wing
aircraft developed by, 136–37

Aéro Club de France, 150, 165

Aero Club of Albany, 190

Aero Club of America, 35, 72, 94, 181

observation of
June Bug
flight by members of, 138–43

Scientific American
trophy and, 126–27

Aero Club of New York, official observer of Hudson-Fulton Prize

flight, 189, 191

Aerodrome (aircraft)

craftsmanship in construction of, 26

earlier models of, 7–8, 12

engine, 10–12, 13, 19, 34–35, 65, 221

evaluation of viability of, 221

first test flight (1903), 1–21

houseboat and catapult launch for, 3, 4–5, 6, 9, 14, 18

C. Manly as pilot of, 5, 6, 11, 13–14, 16–17

propeller blades, 65

reasons for crash of, 17–19

restoration.
See
Aerodrome restoration

tail, 6, 14

wings, 6, 12

Aerodrome restoration, 25–27, 33–40, 43, 58–67, 212–22

conflicts of interest in, 48–49, 58, 65–66, 219–20

modifications made in, 35, 48, 49, 64–65, 217–19, 221

significance of, 217–22

successful launch and flight of, 215–17

water launch and pontoons on, 63–65

O. Wright’s opposition to, and attempts to discredit, 46–49, 64, 217–19

Aeronautics
(periodical), 58, 173

Ailerons, 45–46, 58

comparison of, to Wrights’ method, 160, 177–78

invention of, 133–34

on
June Bug
and
White Wing
aircraft, 123, 133–36

lawsuit involving Wright patent and, 160, 171, 173, 177–78

nonsimultaneous, 69

patent for, granted to Glenn Curtiss (1914), 210

Aircraft

aerodrome.
See
Aerodrome (aircraft); Aerodrome restoration

ailerons.
See
Ailerons (wing flaps)

cockpit, 73

Cygnet
glider, 129–30

dirigibles, 81–94, 100–102

first amphibious, 188–89

first commercially sold, 147

first multiple loops in, 37

Gold Bug
, 53, 147, 159

June Bug
, 122–29, 137–43

landing gear, retractable, 208

S. Langley’s aerodrome, first flight test of (1903), 1–21

origins of airplane, 94–100

ornithopter, 155

pontoons, 63–65, 207

propeller blades, 65

Red Wing
biplane, 131–32

seaplanes, 61, 188–89, 207–8

tail.
See
Tail(s), aircraft

tandem-wing design for, 6, 12, 40, 217, 218

for transatlantic flight (
America
), 71–78, 212, 225–26

White Wing
, 136–37

wings.
See
Wing(s), aircraft

Wright Flyer. See Wright Flyer
(aircraft)

Wright patent on stabilization of, 42, 44–46, 50–51, 135

Aircraft carrier, 208

Airfoil, 137

Airmail, 202, 203, 227

Air Tournament of Los Angeles (1910), 176–77

Albany Flier
(aircraft), 188–89

on Hudson River flight, 194–200

Albany-Manhattan flight, G. Curtiss’s solo, 186–204

airplane design and modifi-cations for, 187, 188–89

Curtiss’s financial problems and decision to attempt, 186–87

finding takeoff and landing sites for, 190–92

first and second sections of, 195–200

Hudson-Fulton Prize and, 187, 189–90, 201–3

planning for, 188–90

press interest in, 189–90, 193

significance of, 203–4

takeoff, 192–95

third section and landing in Manhattan, 200–201

Allen, James, 38

America
(aircraft), 71–78, 212, 225–26

Amphibian plane, G. Curtiss modifications and creation of first, 188–89

Army, U.S., 145

Atlantic Ocean, aerial crossing of, 71–78, 212, 225–26

L’Auto
(periodical), 170

Automobile, patents and lawsuits regarding, 70, 174–75

Avery, William, 130

Aviation

early-20th-century technological advances and, 36–37

fatalities in early, 40, 146

origins of airplane and history of early, 94–100

speed record (1909), 162

Wright brothers’ attempt to monopolize, 43–44, 223.
See also
Patent, Wright brothers’

Wright brothers’ effect on development of, 51, 57–59

Aviation exhibitions and contests Dayton, Ohio (1906), 81–85

Grande Semaine d’Aviation
, Rheims, France (1909), 144–66

Hudson-Fulton Prize, 186–204

Louisiana Purchase, in St. Louis (1906), 89–90

Scientific American
trophy, 126–17

Aviators, 131

alienation of, from Wright brothers, 44, 57–59, 160

Captain T. Baldwin, 81–94, 100–102, 118, 120, 131

Glenn Curtiss as.
See
Curtiss, Glenn Hammond

at Rheims tournament, 154–55, 158

A. Santos-Dumont, 81–82, 86, 90, 134

stunt, 36–37, 67

Wright brothers.
See
Wright brothers

Awards

Collier Trophy, 210

Hudson-Fulton Prize, 187, 189–90, 201–3

Langley Medal, 38, 210

Gordon Bennett Trophy, Rheims, France (1909), 160–66

Scientific American
trophy, 126–27

Baldwin, F. W. “Casey,” Aerial Experiment Association and role of, 109, 110, 119, 122, 132, 146

Baldwin, Thomas “Captain,” career and dirigible flights of, 81–94, 100–102, 118, 120, 131

Balzer, Stephen, 11n.

Baseball, 67–68

Beach, Stanley Y., 138

Beachey, Lincoln, 36–37, 43, 67, 212

dirigible flight (1906), 93

Beard, Luther, 53

Bell, Alexander Graham, 28, 38, 171

on aerodrome restoration, 63

early career and inventions of, 114–17

glider design by, 129–30

interest in S. Langley’s aerodrome, 7, 15, 20, 37, 117, 216

role of G. Curtiss and, Aerial Experiment Association, 103–21, 129–30, 133

telephone invented by, 43, 44, 94, 111, 114–15

wing design suggestions of, 135–36

Bell, Edward, 116

Bell, Elsie May Gardiner, 110

Bell, Mabel, 110–11, 113, 117, 119

Belmont, August, 44

Benner, Hank, 75

Bennett, James Gordon, 152–53, 164

Bennitt, Malinda, 30

Biplanes

June Bug
, 122–29, 137–43

Red Wing
, 131–32

Bishop, Cortlandt, 148, 152, 153, 156, 164, 165, 171

Bleriot, Louis, 194

flight of, across English Channel (1909), 149, 203

at Rheims tournament (1909), 154–55, 156, 163–64, 165

Boston American
(periodical), 67

Boston Transcript
(periodical), 211

Boulton, M. P. W., 134

Brashear, John A., 38, 39

Brewer, Griffith, on aerodrome restoration, 47–49, 217, 218–19

Cartier, Louis, 86

Cayley, George, 95–97

Chambers, Washington Irving, 208

Champlin, Harry, 122–23, 139

Chanute, Octave, 89, 120, 124, 130, 135, 146

aviation information collected and disseminated by, 54–55, 98–99

criticism of Wrights by, 55–56, 172–73

on S. Langley’s aerodrome, 37–38

Churchill, Winston, 227

Clarke, J., 67, 68

Cockburn, George, 162

Cockpit, 73

Collier, Robert, 44

Collier Trophy, 210

Collins, M. P., 199

Cox, James, 47

Crisp, W. Benton, 69–70, 212, 224

Curtiss, Glenn Hammond, 28–31

Aerial Experiment Association aircraft and role of.
See
Aerial Experiment Association (AEA)

aerodrome restoration directed by.
See
Aerodrome restoration

aileron wing designs of, 45–46, 123, 160, 177–78

aircraft developed by.
See Albany Flier
(aircraft);
America
(aircraft);
Curtis JN
(“Jenny” aircraft);
Gold Bug
(aircraft);
June Bug
(aircraft);
NC-4
(aircraft);
Red Wing
(aircraft);
Triad
(aircraft);
White Wing
(aircraft)

Albany-Manhattan solo flight by, for Hudson-Fulton Prize, 186–206

business relationship with A. Herring, 146–47, 170–71, 181–82

business successes of, 206–7, 227–29

celebrity of, 164–66, 169–70

demonstration flights by, 171–72, 176–77

engine designs by, 30–31, 82, 87–89, 92–93

financial backing for transatlantic air crossing proposed by, 71

financial difficulties of, 181–85, 186–87

first air travel by, 92

first pilot license earned by, 142

H. Ford’s assistance to, 69–70, 175–76, 211–12

injunctions against, 41–43, 176, 186–87, 206

innovations and inventions of, 29, 64, 70, 104–5, 137, 207–10, 222, 223–24, 231–33

as
June Bug
pilot, 140–43

on S. Langley, 38–39

love of experimentation, 208–9

marriage to Lena Curtiss, 87–88

meetings and contacts between Wright Brothers and, 81–85, 100–102, 120, 179, 184, 229

motorcycles built by, 29, 30–31, 87

participation in Rheims, France, aviation contest, 144–66

public sentiment in favor of, 69

son Glenn Jr., 207

visit with A. G. Bell and formation of Aerial Experiment Association, 103–21

Wright lawsuits against, 41–46, 57–59, 68–70, 72–73, 158–60, 171–87, 205–6, 210–12, 221, 224

Curtiss, Lena, 108, 118, 140, 144, 149, 159, 207

G. Curtiss’s Albany-Manhattan solo flight and role of, 187, 190, 193, 194, 195, 197, 201

first flight of, 189

marriage to G. Curtiss, 87–88

son Glenn Jr., 207

Curtiss Aeroplane Company, 25, 61, 207, 224, 227–29

employees of, 31–32

Curtiss JN
(“Jenny” aircraft), 208, 227–28

Curtiss Motor Company, 207

Curtiss-Wright Corporation, 228–29
Cygnet
(glider), 129–30

De la Croix, Félix du Temple, 99

Dienstbach, Karl, 138

Dirigible, 81–94, 100–102

Doherty, Tony, 41

Ellyson, Theodore “Spuds,” 32, 208

Engine(s), 96–97

for
America
, 73, 76–77

for T. Baldwin’s dirigible, 82, 87, 89, 92–93

G. Curtiss designs for, 30–31, 82, 87–89, 92–93

for
June Bug
, 124

for S. Langley’s aerodrome, 10–12, 13, 19, 34–35

for
Rheims Racer
, 149, 156

English Channel, first flight across (1909), 149

Esnault-Pelterie, Robert, 45n., 134

Fairchild, Daisy Bell, 110, 140–42

Fairchild, David, 110, 140–41

Fallières, Armand, 157

Fisher, Ward, 148, 156

Flights

Albany to Manhattan, G. Curtiss’s solo, 186–204

first officially observed (1908), 142–43

first Wright Brothers’ (1903), 15, 50

transatlantic, 71–78

Flotation devices, 188–89

Ford, Henry, 28, 61, 186

his assistance and support for G. Curtiss, 69–70, 72, 175–76, 211–12

Model T built by, 36

G. Selden patent and, 174–75

French, John, 157

Fulton, Robert, 203