AEA June Bug

The June Bug (or Aerodrome # 3) was an early biplane of Glenn Curtiss from the year 1908. It was built by the Aerial Experiment Association.

The first flight with Glenn Curtiss took place on 21 May 1908. Because the performance was so convincing, the AEA decided the June Bug to the Scientific American Trophy to let fly. In order to win the trophy, the machine had to create the first certified flight over a kilometer.

The AEA contacted the Wright Brothers, to give you the chance for the first attempt, but they rejected it. On July 4, 1908 Curtiss began in Hammondsport and flew 1.6 km in one minute and 40 seconds. He received the award over $ 25,000. Although the Wrights had in 1905 carried out a flight above 38 km, however, saw the criteria of the Scientific American Trophy ago that a plane had to stand independently and was not allowed to be started from a launch pad.

The Wrights wanted to take action against the award, because the June Bug allegedly used a control system such as the Wright Flyer models. The fact was, however, which used the June Bug is a completely different control system. It was based on triangular elevators. These have been successfully patented in 1911 by Alexander Graham Bell. The judges ruled in 1913 that the controller is a derivative of the Wright patent.

AEA Loon

From October to November 1908, the June Bug was equipped with floats and renamed AEA Loon. On November 28, 1908 starting attempts were made, but the machine was at max. 43 km / h do not answer. On January 2, 1909, the machine crashed at and sank. The machine was indeed rebuilt, but never used again. They rotted in a boat house.

The first flight in a seaplane in 1910 succeeded the Frenchman Henri Fabre with the Hydravion. Curtiss moved in 1911 with the Curtiss A-1 Triad after.

Specifications

Pictures of AEA June Bug

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