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In 1905, it was Glenn Curtiss who designed the motor of U. S. dirigible No. 1 and assisted Captain Thomas Baldwin in trial tests. In 1907, Glenn Curtiss collaborated with Dr. Alexander Graham Bell (telephone man) in the work of the Aerial Experiment Association, as motor expert and director of experiments. His June Bug, designed and built in 1907, received The Scientific American's trophy of 1908. He won the Gordon-Bennett speed trophy at Rheims, France, in 1909; and, in 1910, was recipient of The New York World's $10,000 prize for a flight from Albany to Manhattan. His was the world's first amphibious plane, which went from land to water and from water back to land in 1911. The multi-motored seaplane was his invention, beginning with the America (1914), culminating with the NC4 (1919), first craft to make a transoceanic flight, going from Rockaway, L. I., to Plymouth, Eng. During the War, his company built large numbers of planes—after 140 different models— for the U. S. and other Governments. His flying rating is suggested by the fact that he holds license No. 1 of the Aero Club of America and license No. 2 of the Aero Club of France. He is active today as head of the Curtiss Corporations at Garden City—sky-writing being one of his recent departures.
In Hammondsport, N. Y., where Curtiss was born, they used to call him "handy at fixing things." Also they would say: "I knew be could do it." Ingenuity, mechanical skill, persistence, enterprise, daring—these were Glenn Curtiss' qualities as early as the days when his bicycle was the speediest, his sled coasted farthest, his motor-cycle a wonder of the day, his skate-sail unique, his birds'-egg collection largest and rarest of all his comrades. His appetite for speed has always been insatiable. Now 46, he still ponders engine construction, streamline, weight reduction in hopes of letting man move faster.
In Detroit
Detroit was first among U. S. cities to see the possibilities of the automobile and to bring the new industry there. Now, however, Mr. Ford's city has gone forward to conquer fresh worlds, by adopting the slogan: "Bring the Aircraft Industry to Detroit."
Commercial flying, says Detroit, will be the next business sensation. And Detroit is not satisfied with merely discussing the subject. A large all-metal dirigible the first in this country—is nearly completed in a Detroit factory shed. Promoters are already planning air lines and quarreling over passenger and freight rates. Not only the numerous automobile interest there, but bankers and even the municipal Government are interested in the new movement. Particularly active in it have been Edsel Ford, the Hudson Motor Car Co. and the Packard Motor Car Co.
Experiments are taking the form of all-metal dirigibles. The Stout Metal Airplane Co. has already built an "air Pullman," christened it Maiden Detroit and put it into passenger work over the city. The vessel is built entirely of a new metal called duralumin, said to be lighter than aluminum yet stronger than steel. Another builder was the Aircraft Development Co. Edsel Ford donated a Dearborn flying field to the two pioneer companies; while the Common Council of Detroit has started to acquire a municipal landing field on the Detroit River.