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Other titles in the Crowood Aviation Series
Avro Lancaster Ken Delve
Avro Vulcan Kev Darling AMERICAN
Blackburn Buccaneer Kev Darling
Boeing 747 Martin W. Bowman
Boeing 13-29Superfortress Steve Pace
Bristol Beaufighter
JerryScutts
British Experimental Turbojet Aircraft BarryJones
oncorde Kev Darling
onsolidated 13-24Liberator Martin W. Bowman
urtiss SB2C Helldiver PeterC. Smith
De Havilland Comet Kev Darling
De Havilland Twin-Boom Fighters BarryJones
Douglas Havoc and Boston ScottThompson Volume I: Experimental Aircraft to 1945
English Electric Lightning Martin W. Bowman
Heinkel He III
Ron Mackay
Lockheed F-I04Starfighter Martin W. Bowman
Lockheed P-38 Lightning Jerry Scutts
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Steve Pace
Messerschmitt Me 262 David Baker
Nieuport AircraftofWorld WarOne RaySanger
North American P-51 Mustang Malcolm Lowe
Petlyakov Pe-2 Peshka PeterC. Smith
Supermarine Seafire Kev Darling Kev Darling
Vickers Viscount and Vanguard Malcolm Hill
V-Bombers
BarryJones
I~~cl
The Crowood Press
Firstpuhlished in 2009by
TheCrowood PressLtd
Ramsbury,Marlborough
WiltshireSN82HR
www.crowood.com Contents
©Kev Darling2009
All rightsreserved. Noparrofthispublicationmaybe
reproducedortransmitted inanyform orloyanymeans, Introduction 6
electronicormechanical, includingphotocopy,recording,
oranyinformationstorageand retrieval.ystem,without
permissionin writingfrom thepublishers.
1 The Aviation Roots ofAmerica 7
BritishLibraryCataloguing-in-Publication Data
Acataloguerecordforthisbook isavailablefrom the British 2 American Prototyping - The Lean Years 25
Library.
3 US Navy Prototypes and Trials Aircraft 58
ISBN9781847971418
4 American Fighter Prototypes and Trials Aircraft 1939-45 66
5 Bomber Development During World War Two 122
Index 14
TypesetbyServisFilmsettingLtd,Stockport",Cheshire
Primedand hound in Indiaby Replika Press
HAPTERONE
Introduction The Aviation Roots of ADlerica
No matter where you look in the annals of contract to build the USAF's Canberras, as the When the US Navy and the US Army returned The first step in this process was to successfully
aviation history, it is littered with strange and Martin B-57. home from Europeat the endoftheGreat War in fly a quarter-scale model in 1901, followed by a
wonderful aircraft, many of which were evolu Not all of the American manufacturers could November 1918 they were fully confident in the full-size machine named the 'Aerodrome'. The
tionarydeadends.TheAmericanaircraftindustry be winners, as the demise ofCurtiss shows. One design and production ofships for the navy and twO flight trialsofthis machine took placeoffthe
was no exception as it first attempted to catch up of the pioneers ofaviation in the USA, Curtiss the equipment for the army. One area, however, Potomac River during October and November
and then overtook the restofthe world inaircraft did not survive long after 1945, as they seemed 111which the USA wassadly lackingwasaviation: 1903: they were a failure. This caused a furore in
development. Along the way, problems were unable to compete in any field of aviation and exposure to the burgeoning British and European Congress, the press and amongst the public, as
encountered; many were circumvented success were forced to close. Subsequently the American aircraft industries had revealed that the USA had theaircraftand itsdevelopmenthad been paidfor
fully, butthere weresome bloopersalong the way aviation industry has shrunk to a handful of .1 lotofcatching up to do. out ofpublic funding. Having been bitten by the
that resulted in some exceptionally dangerous aviation conglomerates. They now use exten It was the United States Army who encour failure ofthe Langley experiment, the US Army
machines beingconstructed. sive computer modelling to develop their new .Iged the USA's first steps in flying. Their first was loath to become involved in further aviation
When swept wings and jet engines became products: although this helps in reducing devel sponsorship took place in 1898 when they pro programmes, even though the Wright brothers
available the armed forces of the USA opment costs, it does mean that the chances of vided $50,000 to Samuel P. Langley for the had successfully flown their aircraft at Kill Devil
appeared to go mad as contracts were issued strange aeronautical creations appearing in the development of a man-powered flying machine. Hills on 17 December 1903. The Wright 'Flyer'
for aircraft that in reality had no chance of skies today are remote.
entering service. However, many of these air Thisbook couldnothave beenwritten without
craft led to the development of useful aircraft the help of others, including my good friend
types - one of Convair's many elegant experi Dennis R. Jenkins who put me in contact with
mental aircraft was the XF-92A that finally led many of the organizations mentioned and also
to the F-102. In competition with Convair, did much research on my behalf. As ever, Air
the Glenn L. Martin Company were definitely Britain played its part in filling in thosesmall but
in the 'losers can be winners' category. Their vital pieces.
XB-51 bomber for the USAF was rejected in
favour of the English Electric Canberra, but Kev Darling
by way of compensation Martin was awarded a Wales, 2009
Thestartofitall:theWright
Flyeronanearlyflightfrom
KittyHawk.NorthCarolina.
via LOC/DennisR.Jenkins
8 Tilt:AVIATION ROOTS OFAMERICA
Till' AVIATION ROOTSOFAMERICA 9
introduced the first vestiges ofproper flight con
~Ltrch 1916 when Mexican forces attacked achieved the first aerial victory for the US Army
War with Mexico
trolsfor roll, pitchand yaw,aswellasa reasonably
(:olumbus,New Mexico,and itsresidentunit, the AirCorps. With theendofthe war, thesquadron
reliable engine and fuel supply.
Ihh Calvary. The US Army sent a force under returned to the USA in 1919. While units were
vel' the next four years the US Army resisted The creation of the squadron had been precipi the command of Gener," Pershing with the air beingdespatchedoverseasthecoreoftheaircom
allattemptstobecomeinvolvedinaviation,and it tated by the possibility ofwar with Mexico, then unit in support. Right from the outset there were ponentwasdivorcedon 20May 1918through the
was only the interventionofPresidentTheodore under the rule of General Victoriano Huerta. problems with the Curtiss aircraft: not only were Overman Act, the result of which was the crea
Roosevelt that swung the services' opinion. The The initial threat of war receded, allowing the theyunable toclimboverthe mountains, butdust tion ofthe Division ofMilitary Aeronautics and
US Army established an Aeronautical Division 1st Aero Squadron to relocate to North Island, 'tmmsgrounded the aircraftand the heatdelami the Bureau ofAircraft Production; the latter was
on I August 1907; this, the first Army organi alifornia on 28 November 19l3. At its new nated thewooden propellers. Despitethistheydid responsible for aircraft procurement, supply and
zation dedicated to supporting heavier-than-air base thesquadron acted as the Army flying train provide some useful service, moving despatches training. Both ofthe departments would become
flying, beingpartoftheOfficeoftheChiefSignal ing unit, for which purpose it acquired aircraft ,l11dperformingreconnaissanceand liaisonduties. known as the Air Service. The units despatched
Officer of the US Army. Its first commanding provided by Burgess, Curtiss, Martin and Wright. During this period three aircraftcrashed and four to Europe would become known as the American
officer was Captain Charles de Forrest Chandler, It did, however, send a detachment to Fort were grounded to provide spares, leaving two air Expeditionary Force of the Air Service, this in
who had a staff of two enlisted men. On 10 Crockett,Texas, in April 1914 in response to the uaft in service. Further Curtiss machines were turn being sub divided into the 1st, 2nd ~llld 3rd
February 1908, the Army was encouraged by the Tampico Affair. This incident - which started 'upplied to make up the shortfall but, although Armycomponents in Novemher 1918.
President to accept a tender from the Wright as a fracas between some US Navy sailors and unproved, they tooproved to be inadequate. By 18July 1914 an enlarged Aviation Section
brothersfor $25,000 to build asingle militaryair Mexican soldiers- and itssubsequent fallout saw of the Signal Corps had been created, of which
craft that could carry two persons at a maximum relations between Mexico and the USA strained the 1st Aero Squadron became part. Starting
speed of 40mph, and the Aeronautical Division almost to breaking point, while the Mexican World War One with a strength ofsixty officers and 260 enlisted
accepted the Wright Model A at Fort Myers, revolution played in the background. Another personnel, the Aviation Section had expanded
near Washington, DC, on 2 August 1909. The detachment was sent to Brownsville in March The USA declared waron Germany on 16 April to include seven squadrons by the time the
Model A remained the Division'sonlyaircraftfor 1915 in response to the civil war that had broken 1917. The 1st Aero Squadron was supposed to USA entered the war. The 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th
the next two years, during which time the first out in Mexico between Pancho Villa and the have shipped out to Europe with the initial Squadrons were based in America, the 2nd in
Army Air Base was established at College Park, governmentofVenustianoCarranza. deployment of the 1st Army Division, but was the Philippines, and the 6th and 7th in Panama.
Maryland. At this base with their single aircraft On 29July 1915 the entire complementofthe delayed and had to make its own way to France. These seven squadrons expanded to forty-five
the first two aviators for the US Armygraduated. 1stAeroSquadron was packed aboard a train and As the air unit was untested and untried over by the time of the AI'mistice, whiIe others were
TheArmygainedfurtherfundingfromCongress shipped to Fort Sill, Oklahoma in order to learn Europe, it was sent to a quiet part of the front. either training or under formation. While units
in Fiscal Year 1912, allowing the service to pur artilleryspotting. At thecompletion ofthis train Duringthe winterperiodof1917/18thesquadron were beingdespatchedoverseas thecoreoftheair
chase further aircraft. Thisallowed the formation ing the 1st Aero Squadron transferred to Fort wasbasedatAvord,flyinga mixofCurtissAR-ls, componentwasdivorcedon20May1918through
of the 1st Aero Squadron at Texas City, Texas Sam Houston, near San Antonio, Texas on 15 Spad Xills and Salmson 2 observation aircraft; theOvermanAct, the resultofwhich wasthecre
on 5 March 19l3; this was the first US Army air November 1915. whilst based at Avord, Lt Stephen Thompson ation ofthe Division ofMilitary Aeronauticsand
combat unit. Commanded by Captain de Forrest The 1st Aero Squadron first saw action in
handler, the squadron was equipped with a
mixture ofCurtissJN2 and JN3 machines, better
TheCurtissJennyseriesofaircraftwerethefoundationfor Salmson2 SpadXIII
known as 'Jennys'. The day-to-day management
theflyingservicesoftheUSA.HereaJN4awaitsitspilotat
ofthe unit was vested in LtThomas D. Milling. anunknowntrainingschool.viaNARNDennisR.Jenkins Crew:2 Crew:1
Length:8.5m127ft10Y.!in) Length:6.25m120ft6in)
Wingspan:11.75m138ft'6Y.!in) Wingspan:8.25m(27ft1in)
Height:2.9m(9ft6in) Height:2.60m(8ft6.5in)
Wingarea:37.27m2(401ft2) Wingarea:21.1m21227ft2)
Emptyweight:780kg11.716Ib) Emptyweight:566kg11.245Ib)
Loadedweight:1.290kg12.838Ib) Loadedweight:856kg11.8881bl
Powerplant:1xSalmson9Za.172kW(230hp) Max.take-offweight:845kg11.863Ib)
Powerplant:1xHispano-Suiza8Be8cylindervee-type.220hp
Performance (164kW)_
Maximumspeed:188km/h(101kt.116mphlatsealevel
Range:500km1270nm.310milesl
Performance
Serviceceiling:6.250m(20.500ft) Maximumspeed:218km/h(135mphl
Serviceceiling:6.650m(21.815ft)
Armament Rateofclimb:2m/s(384ft/min)
1xforwardsynchronized0.303inVickersmachinegun
2xrear.ring-mounted0.303inLewisGuns Armament
Guns:2x0.303inVickersmachineguns
10 TilE AVIATION ROOTS OFAMERICA Till: AVIATION ROOTS OFAMERICA II
TheJennywasextensively
usedbyboththeUSArmyand
Navytotraintheirtyroaviators.
viaNARNDennisR.Jenkins
the Bureau ofAircraft Production; the latter was suffered as successive governments struggled to
responsible for aircraft procurement, supply and provide money to implement social programmes
training. Both ofthe departments would become and recoverfrom thewareffort. With littlemoney
known as the Air Service. The units despatched available, the AirService had to fall back on the
to Europe would become known as the American aircraft already in service, as little funding could
Expeditionary Force of the Air Service, this in bespared to procure newaircraftand equipment.
turn being sub divided into the lst, 2nd and 3rd
Armycomponents in November 19]8.
AstheAirServicelackedAmerican-builtfightersforcombatovertheWesternFront.itsunitswereequippedwiththe
The Air Service returned to Army control Curtiss
French-builtSpadXIII.viaNARNDennisR.Jenkins
under the Army Reorganization Act of 4 June
1920, and the United States Army Air Corps One of the companies that helped develop the
(USAAC) came into existence under the Air Americanaircraftindustryand, in turn, USArmy
Corps Act of 2 July]926; this state of affairs aviation was the Curtiss Aeroplane an~Motor
continued until 1948,when thefully independent ompany. The founder, Glenn H. Curtiss, had
United Stares Air Force (USAF) was created. beenbornon21May 1878inHammonc.lsport,New
After the war the United States armed forces York. As with many youngsters, Curtiss received
- like those of the other combatant nations - a formal education only until hisearly teen years.
Afterfront-lineusagesome
CurtissIN-4swereallocated
toaninfantNACAfortestand
evaluationpurposesas
shownhere.
ThisunmarkedCurtissIN-4stillrequiresitscolourdopingbeforedeliverytotheUSArmy.viaNARNDennisR.Jenkins viaNASNDennisR.Jenkins
12 THEAVIATION ROOTS OFAMERICA TilE AVIATION ROOTS OFAMERICA 13
urtiss had a feeling for and fascination with although Martin resigned in 1917, Other engi
CurtissModel 0 WrightModelA
mechanical engineeringthatgained him employ neersdeparted at this point to form the Prattand
ment at Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company, Crew:1 Crew:2 WhitneyCorporation.
now better known as Kodak. By J898 Curtiss was Capacity:1passenger Length:30ftBin(9.3m) Prior to merging with the Martin Corporation
involved in the bicycle trade and later he caught Length:29ft3in(B.92m) Wingspan:36ft5in(11.1m) the Wright Company had produced a handful of
the motorcycle bug. His first contribution to this Wingspan:3Bft3in(11.66ml Height:Bft(2.43m) designs, many of which were purchased by the
new method of transport was not only a bike, Height:7ft1Din(2.39ml Emptyweight:740lb(336kg) US Army. The first type delivered to the Army
but also the motor needed to power it. Although Emptyweight:700lb(31Bkgl Loadedweight:1,2631b(573kg) was the Model A, which was purchased at a cost
urtiss had established himself as a motorcycle Loadedweight:1,3oolb(590kg) Powerplant:1xWrightModel4,30hp(22kW) of $25,000 including bonus and penalty clauses
manufacturerand, in 1906,aspeed record holder, Powerplant:1xCurtissE-4VBengine,60hp(45kWI related to the aircraft's performance. After flight
Performance
his perspective on transf10rt changed again when demonstrationsat Fort Myers in 1908, the Model
Performance Maximumspeed:42mph(67.6km/hl
he visited the Wright brothers and discussed A underwent a thorough flight testing before
Maximumspeed:43kt(50mph,Bokm/h)
with them aircraft and aero-engines. In 1907 beingaccepted for service,
he was persuaded by Alexander Graham Bell to to concentrate upon engines instead. Eventually, Very much a development machine not only
join Aerial EXf1erimental Association with the urtiss now turned his attention to the US 111 J929, the assets of the Wright Aeronautical for aviation in general, but also for the Wright
intention ofbuiIdingaheavier-than-air machine. Army, which was in the process of acquiring a Corporation was merged with Curtiss to form the brothers, the Model A was subject to various
This made its first flight on 4June 1908 and was Wright bif1lane, His response was to produce Curtiss-WrightCorf1oration, trials. One ofthese included fittingslightly larger
named the 'June Bug'. While he was congratu the famous 'Jenny' series of biplanes. The roots pusher propellers that were test-flown by Orvilie
lated by many for this success, gaining the first of this famous series of aircraft were in 8ritain, Wright with Lt Thomas Selfridge as the passen
American pilot's licence in the process, Curtiss where Curtiss hired the designer/engineer Developments by the Wright ger. Theseslightly biggerrrorellers caused exces
found himselfinvolved in a long-running patent Douglas Thomas from A.V. Roc to design a Brothers sive vibration in a diagonal bracing wire, which
lawsuit with the Wright brothers. tractor biplane ofthe kind that had become the fouled oneofthe prorellers. In the resultingcrash
The legal wrangles notwithstanding, Curtiss standard in Britain, The first design was the '1', Ilaving successfully made their first flight in Selfridge was killed and Wright was injured. The
increased his public profile byflying from Albany muchofwhich wascomrleted in Britain, and was December 1903, the Wright brothers formed aircraft itself was rebuilt and returned to US
along the Hudson River to New York, which followed by the 'N'design. Both models wascom a slew of companies to promote their aeronau Armyownershipthefollowingyear, Unlike many
won him a prize of$10,000 offered by publisher bined later tocreate the 'IN', betterknown as the tical products: France had an office in 1908, prototype and development machines the Model
Joseph Pulitzer. Having arrived over New York, Jenny, The US Army tested a mix of both types Germany and the USA in J909, and Britain
Curtiss then flew over Manhattan and even had during 1914, the result ofwhich was an order for in 1913. Originally the company was named AftertheFlyerhadproventhattheaircraftwasviable,the
the temerity to circle the Statue ofLiberty. This eight IN-2 aircraft with equal-span wings and a Wright and Company; in 1916 it was merged companydeliveredsimilarmachinestotheembryoAir
success interested the US Navy in aviation and pair of IN-3s with extended upper mainplanes; with the Glenn L. Martin Company to form Service.Thisversionusedasingleenginetodrivethe
its rossible fleet applications. In response, Curtiss theIN-2s were later fitted with IN-3 wings. the Wright-Martin Aeronautical Corporation, propellersviachains.via LOC/DennisR.Jenkins
setupasmall manufacturingfacility in San Diego Having got used to operating the Jenny, the
where the first Model '0' was constructed. On Army began large-scale procurement in 1916
14 November 1910, Eugene Ely ofthe US Navy when ninety-four IN-4s were purchased; these
becamethefirstpersontotakeofffromaship,flying werecontrolled usingacontrol wheel insteadofa
aModel 0 from thecruiserUSSBirmingham. column, Although the earlyJennys suffered from
someproblemswhiIesupportingGeneraIPershing
in the Mexican conflict, they were considered
CurtissIN-4 good enough to act as trainers for the US Army
and were exported to the Royal Flying Corps in
Crew:2
Britain. The CurtissIN series was also one ofthe
Length:27ft4in(B.33m)
Wingspan:43ft7~in(13.3m) first aircraft to be manufactured by subcontrac
Height:9ft1ol7in(3.01m) tors: the Standard Aircraft Corporation and the
Wingarea:352ft2(32.7m2) Canadian Aeroplane Corporation of Toronto,
Emptyweight:1.390lb(630kg) the latter'soutput being known as 'Canucks'.
Max.take-offweight:1,9201b(B71kg) In the closing year of the war Curtiss began
Powerplant:1xCurtissOX-5Inlinepiston,90hp(67kWI building experimental aircraft to trial various
improvements. The first ofthese was the IN-4C,
Performance
which trialled British 'RAF.6' aerofoils, Also
Maximumspeed:65kt(75mph,121km/h)
during the war, the patent wrangle between
Cruisespeed:52kt(6omph,97km/h)
urtiss and the Wright brothers was concluded
Serviceceiling:6,5ooft(2,000m)
as the Wrights pulled out ofaircraft manufacture
14 THE AVIATION ROOTS OFAMERICA TilEAVIATION ROOTSOFAMERICA 15
Oneofthefirstaircraftbuiltby
A survived, and is on display to this day at the
BurgessModelD theCurtissAircraftCompany
Smithsonian Institution.
wastheModelEflying boat,
The Wright Model A was followed by the Crew:1 whichledtoanextensiverange
Models Band C. These were a complete revamp Capacity:1passenger ofsimilarmachines,
ofthe original design in which the elevatorswere Length:29ft3in(8.92011 via NARA/DennisR.Jenkins
relocated to the rearofthe aircraftand awheeled Wingspan:38ft3in(11.6601)
landing gear replaced the original skid assembly. Height:7ft1Din(2.3901)
Both models retained the original wing warping Emptyweight:700lb(318kg)
with two-lever controls, and the chain-driven Loadedweight:1,3001b(590kg)
propellers behind the wings. Only two Model Bs Powerplant:1xCurtissE-4V8engine,60hp(45kW)
were constructed; they were used as trainers even
Performance
though the instructorand pupil had tosharesome
Maximumspeed:43kt(50mph.80km/h)
controls. The seven Model Cs had fully dupli
cated controls, but were otherwise similar to the
earlier machine. the original Wright patent, and the manufactur
Loening
Following on from these open-framework air ing agreement between the two companies was Army. These were multi-purpose machines that
craft, the Wright Brothers developed the Model terminated inJanuary 1914. llHdd be converted from landplanes to seaplanes
F. This aircraft retained the rear-mounted flight The company now changed its name to the hy the simple expedient of removing the wheels Born in Bremen, Germany, on 12 September
surfaces introduced with the Band C, but the Burgess Company, to avoid confusion with and bolting floats on instead. This model still 1888, Grover Cleveland Loening, son of the
open fuselage framework was replaced by an the Curtiss Aeroplane and Engine Company; retained the Wright wing-warping method for American consul to Germany, is very much the
enclosed fuselage. The engine was an Austro however,GreeleyCurtiscontinuedaschiefshare roll control and featured a tail skid, although this unsung hero of the American aircraft industry.
Daimler of 90hp that drove a pair of pusher holder and treasurer. While Curtis managed the was mainly to protect the rudders. Problems with After returning to the USA Grover Loening
propellers, while flight control was still by wing money, Burgess as the chief designer developed the engines and the handling of these aircraft proved to be a more than able scholar, graduat
warping. An improved version, the HS, featured and manufactured aircraft, production operations and the similar behaviour of the Wright and ing from Colombia University in 1910 with
a 60hp Wright engine with wings of a shorter at the Marblehead plant being managed by Frank Curtiss aircraft- at the Army Aviation Training the nation's first degree in aeronautics. After
span. This machine was tested by the US Army Russell. With all its manufacturing and financial School at North Island, San Diego, meant that graduation Loening joined the Queen Aeroplane
atSan Diego but was not purchased. elements in place, the Burgess Company was the School gained an undeserved reputation for Company in New York where he gained experi
The final aircraft built under the Wright name acquired by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Engiqe beingdangerous. ence in aircraft construction, building Bleriot
was the Wright-Martin Model R. [n 1916 the Company in February 1914. As a Curtiss subsidi [n an effort to sort out these problems, four of aircraftforexhibition pilots. Returningtouniver
Glenn L. Martin company combined with the ary, it manufactured Curtiss seaplanes for mili the Burgess aircraft were handed over to Grover sity, Loening published the book Monoplanes and
Simplex Automobile Company and the General tary use. The company remained active until its C. Loening in San Diego for rebuilding. The Bi/)lanes in 1915 as part ofhis Masters thesis. His
Aeronautical Corporation to form the Wright manufacturing premises were destroyed by fire in engine and basic fuselage were retained, but second book, Military Aeroplanes, later became a
Martin Company, whose factory was located at November 1918. the wing warping was replaced by ailerons and standard work in the US Army, the Royal Flying
Los Angeles. The first two Model Rs were com During the existence ofthe Burgess L.ompany handling was improved by replacing the original Corps, the US Navy and many others. After
pleted under the Curtiss name while the remain it produced the Herring-Burgess Model Ai this conLrol by a control column. The twin rudders a short period managing the Wright brothers'
ing twelve of the Army contract were delivered was a joint effort with Augustus Herring, who were replaced byanenlargedsingleunit mounted manufacturingfacility at Dayton, Loening moved
under the Wright-Martin name. was responsible for the controls and powerplant. ontoasinglefixed fin. The undercarriage became to the Sturdevant Aeroplane Company where
This wasfollowed by the Burgess Model B, which across-axle unit, which was patented by Loening he became vice president and was involved in
was purchased by the US Army as the BP trainer and became a popular choice for many subse
Burgess in 1916. A series of Wright-licensed machines quent aircraft. These modifications resulted in a loeningModel8
was then manufactured: these were the Wright much better-behaved aircraft.
Foundedin 1910,theBurgessCompany,originally Models Band C, which Burgess designated the The final aircraft manufactured under the Crew:2
known as BurgessCompanyand Curtis Inc., after Fand J, respectively. These were followed by the Burgess banner was the unique Burgess-Dunne Length:21ft6in16.601)
the founders W. Starling Burgess and Greeley Model D, a license-built Curtiss Model D. The Tailless aircraft - a radical approach for any Wingspan:32ft9in19,9801)
S. Curtis, was an offshoot of the W. Starling Burgess H followed for the US Army and Navy, period in aviation history. This most different Grossweight:2,0681b1938kg)
Burgess Shipyard of Marblehead, Massachusetts. and the Navy also purchased the HT-2 Speed of biplanes was designed in Britain, and a single Powerplant:1xHispano-SuizaV-8engine,300hp1224kWI
The company became the first licensed aircraft Scout.TheBurgess IScoutwasasingle floatplane landplane example was constructed by Burgess
Performance
manufacturer in the United States when it began that drew on the company's Wright experience; for evaluation at San Diego. The Dunne design
Maximumspeed:145mph(233km/h)
buildingand sellingWrightaircraft under licence it was purchased by the US Army for use in the featured a pusher engine and propeller. Its wings
in February 1911. The addition of pontoons Philippinesand was lost in acrash in 1915. were severely swept: this put the elevators aft Armament
to the Wright Model F improved sales, but These small orders were followed by Burgess H of the centre ofgravity, which in turn gave the TwinO.3inLewismachineguns
this deviation from the original design infringed trainers, of which six were purchased by the US aircraft longitudinal stability.
TilE AVIATION ROOTS OFAMERICA 17
16 TilE AVIATION ROOTS OF AMERICA
Thomas-Morse
Thomas-MorseMB-3
(~reat Britain provided further impetus to the Crew:1
American aviation industry in the shape of Length:20ftDin(6.1Om)
William T. and Oliver W. Thomas, both of Wingspan:26ftDin(7.92ml
whom had beenbornand raised in Bath. Arriving Height:8ft7in(2.59m)
in the USA, William joined Curtiss and Oliver Wingarea:229ft2(2l.28m2)
(~eneralelectric, both being based in New York. Emptyweight:1,7161b(778kg)
Loadedweight:2.5391b(1.151kg)
William was very much the aeroplaneenthusiast,
Powerplant:1xWrightHVee.300hp(217kW)
designing his first aircraft in 1909. The following
year he left Curtiss with their blessing to form
Performance
hiS own aircraft manufacturing company, the Maximumspeed:141mph(228km/h)
Thomas Bros. AirplaneCompany. Initially based Cruisespeed:125mph(201km/h)
,It I[ammondsport, the operation moved to the Range:280miles(455km)
llomell/Canisteo area to undertake fIight testing Serviceceiling19.500ft(5.950m)
ofWilliam's first aircraft. Thesojourn at Hornell Rateofclimb:1.235ft/min(6.3m/sl
was shortas the company moved again later that
Armament
year to Bath,New York, close to LakeSalubria.
2xfixedforward-firing0.30inmachinegunsor
Ilavingfinallysettled, thecompanyinvested in
1x0.30inand1x0.50inmachinegunsor
the Kirkham engine, whose first application was
ThisaircraftwasdesignedandbuiltbytheGroverLoeningAircraftCompany.ThePW2wasasingle-seatmonoplanethat 2xfixed-forward-firing0.50inmachineguns
in the Thomas Headless Pusher. Test flying was
seemeddestinedforanArmycareeruntilthewingscameoffanearlyproductionexample.resulting inthecancellationofthe
undertaken by a close friend, Walter Johnson,
contract.viaNARAlDennisR.Jenkins
who was also a Curtiss employee and pilot. In
1911 Oliver finally left General Electric to join fifteen, fitted withfloatsanddesignated theSH-4,
pioneeringthe first American aircraftwith asteel In 1937 Loeningsold up, thefinal remnantsofhis William on a full-time basis. After a three-year weredelivered to the USNavy between 1915and
framework. companybeingsubsumed intotheCurtiss-Wright sray at Bath, the Thomas company made their 1916. The company also built a single two-seat
Two years later Loening left Sturdevant to empire. In 1937 Loening became a member of final move to [thica, also close to New York. By aircraft, the 0-5, for US Army evaluation.
form the Loening Aeronautical Engineering NACA and, in 1942, the chief consultant to this time the company was engaged in building [n 1917 the company was in need of a bigger
orporation. This company developed and man the War Production Board. Although no longer itsT-2 seaplane for the Royal Naval AirService, manufacturing facility to keep up with its con
ufactured a small aircraft for the US Navy for involved directly with aircraft design and manu iI total of twenty-four being delivered; another tracts and the financial capital to fund it. The
shipboard use, followed by the M-8 two-seat facture,heguidedvariousaircraftcompaniesalong
pursuit (fighter) aircraftfor the Army, which fea the path ofproducingdevelopment prototypes in
tured rigid wing-strut bracing. At thecessationof oncert with their prospective purchasers.
hostilities the company produced the five-seater Afterthe warended in 1945 Loening remained
Locning Flying Yacht. Not only was this aircraft involved with aviation. When the National Air
successfulin setting world records, itaIso started Museum was founded in 1948, PresidentTruman
the push for private ownership and operation by selected him as the first oftwo civilian members
civilian pilots; for this workLoeningwasawarded for its advisory board, an appointment renewed
the Collier Trophy in 1921. After the Yacht the by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy andJohnson.
companymarketed theAmphibian.Thisfeatured He was awarded the Medal for Merit in 1946,
a retractable undercarriage and was used by the olumbia University's Eggleston Medal in 1949,
S Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, as the Wright Memorial Trophy in 1950, the Air
well as by airlines and privateowners throughout ForceMedal in 1955,and theGuggenheim Medal
theworld. Amongits manyachievementswas the in 1960 for a lifetime devoted to the develop
famous Pan American goodwill flight of1926. ment ofaeronautics in America. In 1966 he was
After the company merged with the Keystone awarded the Silver Wings plaque by that organi
orporation in 1928, Loening left to form the zationofaviators.Thisdoyenofaviation pioneers
GroverLoeningAircraftCompany; thiscompany died in Florida on 29 February 1976.
was involved in building various research and
development prototypes for both the military
and the National Advisory Committee on ThefirstfighteraircraftdeliveredtotheAirServicewastheThomas-MorseMB-3.whichowedmuchofitsdesigntotheSpad
Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner ofNASA. XIII.viaNARAlDennisR.Jenkins
