This group of photographs consists of historical images (circa 1908-1913) relating to the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, Hammondsport, New York, most of which were taken by Curtiss photographer Harry M. Benner. This group contains photographs of Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) aircraft (the Aerodrome No 1 Red Wing, the Aerodrome No 2 White Wing, the Aerodrome No 3 Loon, the Aerodrome No 4 Silver Dart, and the Cygnet II) and an assortment of Curtiss models, including Lincoln Beachey at the controls of his Curtiss Beachey Special, Curtiss C-2 (AB-2), Ruth Law at the controls of her Curtiss Model D Headless, Curtiss Flying Boat No.2 "The Flying Fish," Curtiss Flying Boat Model F, the twin-engined Curtiss Model H "America" (H-1), Curtiss J (floatplane version), Curtiss JN-2 Jenny, Curtiss NC-1, Curtiss 18-T Wasp (Curtiss-Kirkham), and the Curtiss 1914 Rebuild of the Langley (Samuel P.) Aerodrome A.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
Signal Corps Photographs, Acc. 1992.0040, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
This collection consists of five rolls of microfilm (and a Diazo copy of each roll), 93 negatives, three 8.5 by 11 inch drawings of the SPAD XI A2 (S.11 A2), three 8.5 x 11 drawings of the Salmson 2 A2, a memorandum for Lieutenant McDarment, and a copy of Burdette Wright's certificate of appointment to First Lieutenant in the Air Service. The microfilm consists of a complete set (28 volumes) of Burdette Wright's diary from April 6, 1917 to February 15, 1949. The negatives are of select images from Wright's diary.
Biographical / Historical:
Burdette S. Wright was born in New Albany, Indiana, and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1915. He later attended George Washington University and obtained a law degree, and in 1925 received his Master's degree from Purdue. His aviation career began during World War I where he was an observer in France for the Army Air Corps. Following the war, Wright became General William (Billy) Mitchell's aide until 1922. When Mitchell was court-martialed in 1925, Wright testified in his defense. Wright set up the first system of air routes in the United States, and introduced various new features for safety and navigation. In 1928, Wright left the army and after two years of practicing law, he accepted a position with the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, of which he became president in 1933. Following the merger of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company with Wright Aircraft Company, Wright became vice president of manufacturing. Wright retired in 1950 and died in 1961 at the age of 67.
Provenance:
Elizabeth Burdette Wright, Gift, 1965
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
This collection consists of one reel of 35 mm microfilm of a book, entitled, "Airplane Billing," which belonged to Louis Kessler of the Curtiss Wright Corporation, Curtiss Aeroplane Division, Buffalo, New York. The information includes invoice data for Curtiss aircraft sold from January 1, 1931, until December 31, 1940, and includes the following types of information: customer name, type of aircraft, the price of the aircraft, the delivery date, invoice date, acceptance date, and the destination of the aircraft. This reel was copied from a microfilm copy provided by the donor, Louis Casey.
Biographical / Historical:
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was formed in June 1929 by the merger of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and the Wright Aeronautical Corporation. Curtiss-Wright operated in three main divisions: the Curtiss-Wright Airplane Division, which manufactured airframes until it closed down in 1951; the Wright Aeronautical Corporation, which produced aeronautical engines; and the Curtiss-Wright Propeller Division, which manufactured propellers.
Provenance:
Louis S. Casey, Gift, 2006
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
This collection consists of eight black and white photographs, mounted on album pages, documenting the flight of the Curtiss NC-1, the Curtiss NC-3, and the Curtiss NC-4 aircraft in their effort to make the first trans-Atlantic crossing by air.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of eight black and white photographs, each approximately 2.25 x 3 inches, mounted on two 7 x 6 inch pages (four to each page) with caption information. The Curtiss NC-3 is shown anchored to a buoy, landing, and beached with damaged wings at Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands. The Curtiss NC-4 is shown landing, on the water, and taking off for Lisbon, Portugal. There is also an image taken from a ship of Naval personnel watching for an aircraft.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
In 1917, the United States Navy developed specifications for a flying boat of sufficient range to cross the Atlantic to England. The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, in conjunction with the Navy, developed a three-engine aircraft. The Navy intended that the flying boat would serve as an anti-submarine patrol aircraft. The first of the new aircraft, the NC-1, flew on October 4, 1918, followed by the NC-2 on April 12, 1919. Even though World War I had ended, the Navy decided to continue the program in an effort to make the first trans-Atlantic crossing by air. As the program progressed, the NC-2 was dismantled to provide parts for the other NC aircraft. On May 16, 1919, the NC-1, the NC-3, and the NC-4 assembled at Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland, to begin the 1200-mile flight to the Azores. The NC-1 was forced down short of the islands and sank, but the Greek vessel, Ionia, rescued the crew. The NC-3 landed two hundred miles short and taxied the remaining distance to the islands. The NC-4 completed the flight successfully, reaching Plymouth, England via Lisbon, Portugal on May 31, 1919. Following publicity tours of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, the NC-4 was given to the Smithsonian Institution and is a part of the National Air and Space Museum collection.
Provenance:
Frederick M. Thompson, Gift, Unknown, NASM.XXXX.0903
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
A scrapbook and photographs documenting Roland Rohlf's aviaiton career.
Scope and Contents:
A scrapbook records Rohlfs' career and includes correspondence, telegrams, programs, and newspaper articles. Loose photographs were reproduced on NASM Archives Videodisc 2B, and include family photographs as well as subjects relating to Rohlfs' career as described above.
Arrangement:
Photographs located in Videodisc Files; scrapbook is a single item.
Biographical / Historical:
Roland Rohlfs started his career establishing motorcycle records in 1914, before turning to the field of aviation. Rohlfs became an instructor and experimental test pilot with Curtiss Aeroplane Company during World War I, and he established speed and altitude records. Because of his popularity, he endorsed advertisements for such items as watches, spark plugs, parachutes and cars. In 1928, Rohlfs developed and patented an aerial neon sign, and established the Aerial Advertising Company to administer it. Toward the end of his career, he promoted private flying as a "Personal Flying Specialist" for the Civil Aviation Authority and he was an operations manager for Aeromarine Airways. Rohlfs was a member of the Early Birds.
Provenance:
Roland Rohlfs, Gift, Unknown, NASM.XXXX.0278
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
This donation consists of one 8" x 40" black and white candid panoramic image inscribed with the following caption "Mail Plane leaving Hampton Roads, VA for Washington, DC. Feb. 1919." The photograph was taken by Rell Clements, Jr., who was a photographer based in Washington, DC.
Image is an informal view of flying boat ramp area at NAS Hampton Roads, Virginia, February 1919. Center, foreground, are seen two Curtiss HS-1L patrol flying boats anchored in shallows at foot of boat ramp; in left background, right side view of Curtiss HS-2L (A2250) nosed into a shed; left wing of Curtiss HS type visible at extreme left foreground; at left center midground, blurred one-half right rear view of Curtiss HS-2L flying boat taxiing out into harbor. In extreme background are buildings labelled, D, E, F, and G, with building H at left background.
Provenance:
Dorathea W. Sander, Gift, 2004
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
United States Navy Curtiss Seaplane Ramps at Hampton Roads Panoramic Photograph, Accession 2004-0028, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
