1911-Continued

.

Sandbags, first aITesting gear, halt Ely's plane 450108

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

5

troIs that could be operated by either the pilot or the

passenger. The machine thus described later became the

Navy's first airplane, the A-I. Although these requisitions

lacked the signature of the Chief of the Bureau of

Navigation, necessary to direct the General Storekeeper

to enter into a contract with the Curtiss Company, they

did indicate Captain Chambers' decision as to which air-

planes the Navy should purchase. From this, 8 May has

come to be considered the date upon which the Navy

ordered its first airplane and has been officially pro-

claimed to be the birthday of Naval Aviation.

27 June Lieutenant (jg) John H. Towers, who

became Naval Aviator No.3, reported for duty and

instruction in flying at the Curtiss School,

Hammondsport, N.Y.

1 July First flight of the A-I-At 6:50 p.m., Glenn H.

Curtiss demonstrated the A-I, the first aircraft built for

the Navy, taking off from and alighting on Lake Keuka

at Hammondsport, N.Y. This flight was of 5 minutes'

duration, and to an altitude of 25 feet. Three other

flights were made the same evening, one by Curtiss

with Lieutenant Theodore G. Ellyson as a passenger,

and two by Ellyson alone.

Hoisting plane aboard Pennsylvania, February 1911 1051558