Glenn Hammond Curtiss built an experimental airplane, the "June Bug", that responded so well to testing that he decided to enter it into a competition for the Scientific American trophy. Curtiss won the first leg in the 1908 competition, which involved flying in a straight line for a distance of one kilometer. On July 4, Curtiss piloted the "June Bug" across Pleasant Valley for a distance of 5,090 feet. It was the first officially-recognized, pre-announced and publicly-observed flight in America. It won Curtiss the first leg of the trophy and established him as America's foremost aviation pioneer.
Display Status
This object is on display in Early Flight at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Date
1908
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
AWARDS-Trophies
Physical Description
A spread eagle is sitting on top of a globe with a Langley airplane model on forward side, and the North and South American continents on the rear surface. The globe is suspended by clouds on top of a pillar, with three winged horses on each side of base. The base is onyx.
Plaque on base has engraved text reading: "July 4, 1908 5090 feet Aerial Experiment Association, Glenn H. Curtiss, pilot Hammondsport, N.Y.; July 17, 1909 25 miles (40.25 km) 52 min. 30 sec., Glenn H. Curtiss Mineola, N.Y.; May 29, 1910 Glenn H. Curtis Albany to Camelot, N.Y. 71 ½ miles, 1 hr. 24 min."
On bottom: "Sterling Reed and Barton."
Dimensions
3-D: 47 × 36 × 78.7cm (18 1/2 × 14 3/16 × 31 in.)
Materials
Silver with onyx base.
Inventory Number
A19730589000
Credit Line
Bequest of the Estate of Glenn H. Curtiss
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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