Page 13 - Ruth Law

RUTH LAW
DAYTONA'S PIONEER AVIATOR

NAVAL AVIATION

Glenn Hammond Curtiss
1878-1930

Born in Hammondsport, New York, with a formal
education only up to grade eight, Glenn Curtiss began his
career as a Western Union bicycle messenger, bicycle
racer and bicycle shop owner.

In 1901, he developed an interest in motorcycles and in
1902 began manufacturing motorcycles with his own
single cylinder engines. His first motorcycle had a
tomato can for a carburetor. In 1907 he set a world
record of 136.27mph on Ormond Beach, Fl. It stood for
many years, and he became known as the "Fastest Man
on Earth." Also in 1907, Glenn Curtiss helped found the
Aerial Experimental Association, and he created the first
U.S. aircraft company, the Curtiss Aeroplane Company in
1910. A Curtiss plane was used to make the first takeoff
and landing on the deck of a ship in 1911, and Curtiss
invented the hydroaeroplane (seaplane) to land and take
off from water.

Curtiss started U.S. Naval aviation by training pilots and
providing them with airplanes and seaplanes. His
company became the largest aircraft manufacturer in the
world during WWI, producing 10,000 aircraft during that
war, more than 100 in a single week.

During WWII, Curtiss manufactured over 29,000 aircraft
and so became known as the "Father of Naval Aviation."

HER PLACE IN AVIATION HISTORY
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