author
Glenn Hammond Curtiss
1878–1930
A bicycle racer and motorcycle builder who became one of the boldest early figures in American flight, he helped turn aviation from experiment into industry. His story moves from speed records on the ground to seaplanes, naval aviation, and the rise of a major aircraft company.
1 Audiobook
The Curtiss Aviation Book
by Glenn Hammond Curtiss, Augustus Post
About the author
Born in Hammondsport, New York, in 1878, Glenn Hammond Curtiss first made his name with bicycles and then high-powered motorcycles. In 1907 he set a world speed record on a V-8 motorcycle, earning fame as the "fastest man on earth" before he became widely known for flying.
Curtiss soon shifted his energy to aviation and became one of the key American pioneers of the field. He was involved with the Aerial Experiment Association, won major early flying competitions, and pushed aircraft design forward at a remarkable pace. He also became especially important in the development of seaplanes and flying boats, helping show that aircraft could operate from water as well as land.
As founder of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, he played a major role in building the American aircraft industry in the years leading up to World War I. He died in 1930, but his influence remained visible in aviation, naval flight, and the growth of aircraft manufacturing in the United States.