The North Island era: Birth of naval aviation
Curtiss' prior "hydroplane" experiments
Prior to coming to North Island, Curtiss had experimented with putting floats
on planes. The first such experiment was while Curtiss was a member of the
Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) with Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Baldwin,
J. A. D. McCurdy and Lt. Selfridge. The third plane built by the AEA was called,
"June Bug." It was later equipped with floats and called,
"Loon." Curtiss tested Loon in November of 1908 and did not get off the water.
Much was learned, however, from this
experiment.
| In May and June of 1910, Curtiss tested a plane mounted on a canoe
(right) but was again
unsuccessful in rising from the water. More
information about the canoe plane is available. |
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The "Hudson Flyer" (left) that Curtiss used to fly from Albany to New York
City in 1910 was equipped with a different kind of floats, in case he was forced
to land on the Hudson river. It is sometimes confused with a hydroplane but it
was not. It was never intended to take off from the water |
Next Page: Curtiss gets off the water
Previous Page: Curtiss arrives on North Island
Back to: The birth of naval aviation
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