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
Garfield, James, 115, 116
Gary, George H., 138
Gaynor, William, 202
Genung, Harry, 142, 144, 149, 187, 207, 227, 228
aeronautical work with Glenn Curtiss, 31, 137–38, 147
Genung, Martha, 31, 142, 144, 149, 187
German Wright Company, 159
G. H. Curtiss Manufacturing Company, 87
Gibbs-Smith, Charles H., 134n.
Gliders
G. Cayley’s, 96–97
Cygnet, 129–30
Gold Bug (aircraft), 53, 147, 159
Gordon Bennett Trophy race, Rheims, France event (1909), 160–66
Grande Semaine d’Aviation, Rheims, France (1909), 144–66
G. Curtiss airplane Rheims Racer entered in, 150, 155–56, 160–64
G. Curtiss’s journey to attend, 144–49
Gordon Bennett Trophy race in, 160–66
Wright brothers’ lawsuit at time of, 158–60
Graphophone, 115
Grey, Charles, 222
Gyroscopic automatic stabilizer, 208
Hallet, George, 74
Hamilton, Charlie, 57
Hammondsport, New York, Curtiss operations in, 25, 27–28, 130
Hammondsport Herald (periodical), 216
Handlebar throttle control, G. Curtiss’s motorcycle, 31
Hargrave, Lawrence, 98
Hawley, Allan R., 138
Hazel, John Raymond, Wright lawsuit and rulings of, 173–79, 182, 183, 206, 210
Herring, Augustus, G. Curtiss’s business relationship with, 146–47, 170–71
Hewitt, Fred, 16–17
Hill, Thomas A., 173
Hitchcock, Gilbert, 15
Hot air balloons, 82, 165
Houseboat and catapult launch for S. Langley’s aerodrome (1903), 3, 4–5, 6, 9, 14, 18
Howard, Fred, 57
Hubbard, William H., 196
Hudson-Fulton Prize, G. Curtiss’s solo flight to win, 186–204
Hudson River flight. See Albany-Manhattan flight, G. Curtiss’s solo
International Harvester Corporation, 61
Iron lung, invention of, 116
Isham, William B., 199
Johnson, Walter, work on aerodrome restoration, 35, 49
Jones, Charles Oliver, 131
Jones, Ernest L., 138
June Bug (aircraft), 122–29, 137–43, 145
design and engine of, 123–24, 137–38
flight of (1908), 124–25, 138–43
Scientific American trophy won by (1908), 124, 126–27, 142–43
Keller, Helen, 115
Kimball, Wilbur R., 139
Kleckler, Henry, 31–32, 207, 227, 228
Aerial Experiment Association and role of, 122, 125, 140, 147, 149
aerodrome restoration and work of, 26, 33–35, 220
G. Curtiss’s Albany-Manhattan
flight and role of, 188, 190, 181, 193, 194, 195, 197
Lake, Simon, 138
Lambert, Comte de, 158
Landing gear, retractable, 208
Langley, Samuel Pierpont, 97, 146, 205. See also Aerodrome (aircraft); Aerodrome restoration
departure of, from aeronautics, 15–16, 20–21
first test flight of aerodrome and, 1–21
information provided to Wright brothers by, 54
Langley Medal, 38, 210
Latham, Hubert, 154
Lawsuits, Wright brothers’, against Glenn Curtiss, 41–46, 57–59, 68–70, 72–73, 158–60, 171–85, 186–87, 205–6, 210–12, 224
Le Bris, Jean-Marie, 98
Lefebvre, Eugene, 158
Lenormand, Sebastian, 92
n. Leonardo da Vinci, 94, 172
Lilienthal, Otto, 81, 97–98, 135
Lloyd George, David, 157–58
Lloyds of London, 75–76
Loening, Grover, 44, 47, 179, 206
Longwell, Lewis, 32
Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis (1906), 89–90
McClure’s (periodical), 7
McCormick, Samuel B., 38, 61
McCurdy, Douglas, Aerial Experiment Association and role of, 109, 110, 119, 122, 133, 146
McEwan, James B., 202
McKinley, William, 8, 66, 174
Macomb, Montgomery M., 18
Manly, Charles, 138, 227
aerodrome engine design by, 11–12, 34–35
aerodrome restoration and, 61, 212, 219, 220
as pilot in aerodrome test flight (1903), 5, 6, 13–14, 16–17
Masson, Katherine, 74–75
Maxim, Hiram, 99–100, 146
Military interest in aviation, 2–3, 8–9, 18, 93, 225
Montgomery, John, 97
Motorcycles, Glenn Curtiss designs for, 30–31, 87–89
Motors. See Engine(s) Mouillard, Louis-Pierre, 98, 135, 172
Mozhaisky, Alexandr Fyodorovich, 99
Munn, Charles, 127–28, 203
Nash, Francis, 3, 4–5, 17
NC-4 (aircraft), first transatlantic crossing by, 225
Newcomb, Simon, disbelief in aviation possibilities, 1, 10
New York City, G. Curtiss’s flight from Albany to, 186–204
New York City Auto Show, 105–6 New York Evening Mail (periodical), 201
New York Herald (periodical), 66
New York Sun (periodical), 67, 68
New York Times (periodical), 9, 15, 20, 42, 48, 59, 216
G. Curtiss’s Albany-Manhattan flight and, 190, 201, 204
New York Tribune (periodical), 68
New York World (periodical), 67
G. Curtiss’s Albany-Manhattan flight and, 189–90, 199, 201, 202
&nb
sp; Northcliff, Lord, 72
Number 14-bis (aircraft), 134
Number 22 (aircraft), 163
Parachutes, invention of collapsible, 92
Passion for Wings: Aviation and the Western Imagination 1906–1918 (Wohl), 53
Patent Office, U.S., 46
Patent, Glenn Curtiss’s, for ailerons, 210
Patent, Wright Brothers’, 42, 44–46, 50–51, 135, 159
lawsuits to protect, 41–46, 57–59, 68–70, 72–73, 158–60, 171–85, 186–87, 205–6, 210–12, 221, 224
Paulhan, Louis, 154
Wright court injunction against, 180–81
Pegoud, Adolphe, 37n.
Penaud, Alphonse, 6
Penaud tail, 6
Pfitzner, Alexander L., 131
Pilcher, Percy, 97
Pilot license, first (1908), 142
Polignac, Grand Marquis de, 150
Pontoons, 63–65, 207
Porte, John Cyril, 74, 75, 225
Post, Augustus, 131, 138, 191–92, 193, 213
Press
G. Curtiss’s relations with, 49, 67, 139, 189–90, 193, 201–2
interest of, in aerodrome restoration, 66–68
interest of, in aviation, 139, 143, 157, 189–90, 193, 201–2
at S. Langley’s aerodrome test, 1–2, 15
Wright brothers’ relations with, 52–53, 127–28
Progress in Flying Machines (Chanute), 98
Propeller blades, 65
Public interest in aviation, 67, 150–51, 157, 193, 200–201
Pulitzer, Joseph, 187
Hudson-Fulton Prize offered by, 187–204
Randolph, Wallace F., 2
Read, Albert, 225
Red Wing (biplane aircraft) 131–32
Rheims, France, aviation tournament. See Grande Semaine d’Aviation, Rheims, France (1909) Rheims Racer (aircraft), 150, 152, 158
design, 155–56
engine, 149, 156
performance of, in trophy race, 160–64
Richardson, Holden C., 47
Robinson, Elmer, 194
Robinson, Thomas, 15
Roosevelt, Edith, 93
Roosevelt, Teddy, 89
Root, Amos, 52
Root, Elihu, 2
Roseberry, C. R., 31, 47, 143
Royal Aeronautical Society, 218–19
Santos-Dumont, Alberto, 81–82, 86, 90, 134
Scientific American, 83, 127
Scientific American aviation trophy, June Bug craft as winner of(1908), 124, 126–27, 142–43
Seaplanes, 61, 188–89, 207–8
Sea sled, 70
Seely, Lyman, 69, 176, 209
Selden, George, motorcar patent and lawsuits involving, 70, 174–75
Selfridge, Thomas
Aerial Experiment Association and role of, 110, 119, 122, 125, 127, 129–30, 132, 133
death of, 145–46
Wright patent and, 183
Shaw, George Bernard, 114
Shriver, Tod, 147, 149, 156
Smellie, Jim, 30
Smithsonian Institution, 2, 38, 66
aerodrome restoration and support of, 26–27, 219
Langley Aerodynamical Research Laboratory at, 39, 49
O. Wright’s feud with, 226–27
Spanish-American War, 8
Sperry, Elmer, Jr., 208
aerodrome restoration and, 61
Stunt aviators, 36–37, 67
Sullivan, Anne, 115
Swope, Herbert, 67
Taft, William H., 203
Tail(s), aircraft
aerodrome, 6, 14
Penaud, 6
Tandem-wing design, 6, 12, 40, 217, 218
Technological advances of early twentieth century, 36
Ten Eyck, Jacob, 190, 194
Tissandier, Paul, 158
Towers, John, 72
Toy, Joe, 67
Triad (aircraft), 208
Trowbridge, J. T., 118
Vanderbilt, Cornelius, 44
Van Tassel, Park A., 91–92
Voisin, Gabriel, 154
Walcott, Charles, 33, 38, 47
Wall Street Air Trust, 44
Wannamaker, Rodman, 71, 72–73
War Department, U.S., support for Langley’s aerodrome project from, 2–3, 8–9, 18
Warner, A. P., 32
Watson, Thomas A., 117
Wheeler, Monroe, 87, 159, 184, 207, 227
White, Clarence, 194
White, Henry, 164, 165
White Wing (aircraft), 136–37
Wildman, Francis, 63
Williams, J. Newton, 131
Wind tunnel, 137
Wing(s), aircraft
flaps on. See Ailerons (wing flaps) Langley’s tandem-wings, 6, 12, 40, 217, 218
Wrights’ wing-warping design, 44–46, 135, 172, 178, 205
Wohl, Robert, 53
World War I, 78, 224–25
Wright, Katharine, 46, 47, 56
Wright, Lorin, 49
Wright, Milton, 46
Wright, Orville. See also Wright brothers
demonstration flights of, in Germany, 159
his feud with Smithsonian, 226–27
on S. Langley’s work, 8
opposition to and discrediting of aerodrome restoration, 46–49, 64, 217–19
personal obsession with G. Curtiss, 42, 179–80, 205–6, 211, 228–29
public flight (1908) piloted by, 145–46
rift with supporters and family, 56–57
skepticism of, toward aviation researchers, 120–21
Wright, Wilbur, 6, 54. See also
Wright brothers
death of, 42, 210
Wright brothers, 41–59
aeronautical contributions of, 29
aircraft of. See Wright Flyer aviation industry alienation against, 44, 57–59
aviation monopoly sought by, 43–44, 68, 223
contribution of, to aviation, 220
first public flight (1908), 145–46
flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. (1903), 15, 50
lawsuits filed by, 41–46, 57–59, 68–70, 72–73, 158–60, 171–87, 206, 210–12, 221, 224
meetings and contacts between G. Curtiss and, 81–85, 100–102, 120, 179, 184, 229
myths surrounding, 43
patent of, 42, 44–46, 50–51, 135
press challenges to, 127–28
public sentiment against, 69–70, 181
refusal to participate in Rheims aviation tournament, 148
secrecy and proprietary attitude of, 50–57, 82–84, 101, 127–28, 210–11
wing-warping design of, 44–46, 135, 172, 178, 205
Wright Company, 44, 46
appropriation of Curtiss designs, 210
merger with Curtiss company, 228–29
Wright Company Ltd., 47–48 Wright Flyer (aircraft), 53, 101
aviators’ ranking of, 170
evaluation of viability of, 222
first public flight of, 145–46
at Rheims tournament (1909), 158, 163
takeoff and sled runners, 128
O. Wright’s feud with Smithsonian and donation of, 226–27
Zahm, Albert, 223, 227
as head of aerodynamics lab, 39–40, 49
launch of America and, 74, 76
oversight of aerodrome restoration by, 33, 48–49, 60–67, 212, 214, 215, 217, 218, 219, 220
About the Author
SETH SHULMAN has worked for two decades as a writer and editor specializing in issues of science, technology, and the environment. His work has appeared in Nature, Discover, Smithsonian, Rolling Stone, Technology Review, and The Atlantic Monthly, among many other publications. He is the author of three books, most recently Owning the Future. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.
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