1911 - 1916 Wings Over the Water

The Glenn H. Curtiss Heritage Trail

By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2020

1. 1911 - 1916 Wings Over the Water Marker

Beginning in 1911, Glenn Curtiss test-flew his pioneering seaplances and flying boats from this beach.

By 1911 Curtiss had already built a working seaplane that made water takeoffs and landings on pontoons. But the secret to making a successful flying boat was finding the right shape for the hull. During the warm season each year in Hammondsport, the beach in front of you was alive with activity, as Curtiss developed and tested new flying boat designs. Glenn finally solved the hull design problem during the summer of 1912, and by 1913 was building and selling his Model E, the world's first practical flying boat.

The United States Navy watched Glenn's experiments with great interest, and soon hired him to help create a fledgling naval aviation program. In 1911 Curtiss trained the Navy's first pilots and built the Navy's first seaplane.

Just three years later, in 1914, he introduced the America, the world's first twin-engine flying boat. This technically advanced aircraft was designed to carry its crew of two across the ocean.

The Glenn H. Curtiss Heritage Trail
Beginning as a self-taught

By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2020

2. 1911 - 1916 Wings Over the Water Marker

To left of monument. Looking NE into Keuka Lake. Note the Curtiss seaplane sculpture "flying" over the lake

The Curtiss Heritage Trail celebrates the pioneering accomplishments of Hammondsport's most famous native son.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
 
Location. 42° 24.156′ N, 77° 12.858′ W. Marker is in Hammondsport, New York, in Steuben County. Marker is on New York State Route 54 half a mile east of Main Street (New York State Route 54A), on the left when traveling east. Marker is in Champlin Beach Park, between the parking lot and Keuka Lake. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8533 New York State Route 54, Hammondsport NY 14840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Glenn Hammond Curtiss (here, next to this marker); 1906 - 1916 Floating and Flying (approx. 0.4 miles away); Vertical Flight Heritage Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1900 - 1904 Two Wheels on the Ground (approx. 0.7 miles away); Mallory Mill (approx. ¾ mile away); Cradle of Aviation (approx. one mile away); Glenn H. Curtiss (approx. one mile away); 1908 An Astonishing Sight (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hammondsport.
 
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