Curtiss A-1
The 1911 Curtiss A-1 Triad was the US Navy's first aircraft .
history
The amphibious aircraft A-1 Triad was developed by Glenn Curtiss from the land aircraft Curtiss D Pusher . On May 8, 1911, the US Navy ordered two Curtiss biplanes , one of which was the Triad . It was an amphibious plane with a pusher propeller . It could fly 96 km / h and take a passenger with it.
The A-1 Triad became the first aircraft in the US Navy and was designated US Navy Airplane No.1 . On July 1, 1911, the plane was flown by Glenn Curtiss with Ellyson as a passenger from Lake Keuka . Ellyson flew the plane alone twice that evening.
On July 3, Ellyson made the U.S. Navy's first night flight from Lake Keuka to Hammondsport , New York . Curtiss then transferred the second machine, the A-2 . On September 7th, Ellyson flew off a makeshift launch pad on Lake Keuka. The successful tests should simulate take-offs from flight decks . On October 25, Ellyson and Lieutenant JH Towers flew an overland flight 180 km in 122 minutes.
The US Navy then experimented with compressed air aircraft catapults in Annapolis . The attempt on July 31, 1912 with Ellyson failed, however. A cross wind pushed the machine into the water and Ellyson was able to save himself swimming unharmed.
Lieutenant JH Towers set an endurance flight record on October 12, 1912 with the A-1. The machine stayed in the air for 6 hours, 10 minutes and 35 seconds.
The A-1 was used as a training aircraft for the US Navy until 1917 .
Replica
On September 15, 2004, pilot Jim Poel flew a Triad A-1 replica on Lake Keuka.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| length | 8.7 m |
| span | 11.2 m |
| Wing area | 30.75 m² |
| height | 2.6 m |
| drive | A Curtiss OX-5 V8 engine with 75 hp |
| Top speed | 96 km / h |
| crew | Pilot and passenger |
| Flight mass | 714 kg |