Curtiss Model D

The Curtiss 1911 Model D Type IV Pusher was the second plane, which was used at the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1911. It was designated the Signal Corps Airplane No.. 2

History

From 1910 Glenn Curtiss tried to market its civil and military aircraft, but he was in strong competition with the Wright brothers. A certain Eugene Burton Ely had flown in this period, a Curtiss airplane from his employer to scrap. After repair of the aircraft itself Ely taught the right flies and made ​​intensive flights in Portland. On a trip to an exhibition to Winnipeg in Canada in June 1910, he met Glenn Curtiss in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From then on, Ely began to work for Curtiss.

In October 1910 Ely and Curtiss met Captain Washington Chambers of the U.S. Navy. This had to consider the order the use of aircraft for the U.S. Navy. This led to two famous flight tests.

On November 14, 1910 Ely started from the first man from a ship. The flight test was conducted from a temporary platform on the light cruiser USS Birmingham. Two months later, on January 18, 1911 Ely landed the first man on a ship, this was the heavy cruiser USS Pennsylvania.

On October 19, 1911 Ely died in a plane crash on a flight exhibition in Georgia killed.

The Curtiss 1911 Model D Type IV Pusher was taken at Fort Sam Houston by the U.S. Army Signal Corps on 27 April 1911. After five more machines were ordered in 1911.

Construction

The Military Model D corresponded largely to the civilian Model D Pusher biplane with a pusher propeller and a rigid three-wheel landing gear. The ailerons were, however, moved back. The wings were easily dismantled and could be easily transported by army vehicles. The aileron has been moved with a kind of shoulder support of the pilot. Behind the pilots was an added observer space.

Replica production

In the years 1985 to 1987, the aircraft in the USAF Museum was rebuilt. There were no original drawings and so the extent of old photographs had to be derived. Further measurements were taken from an existing Curtiss Pusher. The engine was reworked from wood and plastic. The materials used were the original.

Specifications

209847
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