Eugene Burton Ely: Difference between revisions

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Line 32: In October, Ely and Curtiss met Captain [[Washington Chambers]], USN, who had been appointed by [[George von Lengerke Meyer]], the [[United States Secretary of the Navy\|Secretary of the Navy]], to investigate military uses for [[Naval aviation\|aviation within the Navy]]. This led to two experiments. On November 14, 1910, Ely took off in a Curtiss pusher from a temporary platform erected over the bow of the [[light cruiser]] [[USS Birmingham (CL-2)\|USS ''Birmingham'']].<ref name="proceedings"/> The aeroplane plunged downward as soon as it cleared the 83-foot platform runway; and the aircraft wheels dipped into the water before rising.<ref name="proceedings"/> Ely's goggles were covered with spray, and the aviator promptly landed on a beach rather than circling the harbor and landing at the Norfolk Navy Yard as planned.<ref name="proceedings"/> Following this flight, Ely was made a lieutenant in the California National Guard to qualify for a $500 prize offered to the first reservist to make such a flight.<ref name="proceedings"/> Two months later, on January 18, 1911, Ely landed his Curtiss pusher airplane on a platform on the [[armored cruiser]] [[USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4)\|USS ''Pennsylvania'']] anchored in [[San Francisco Bay]]. Ely flew from the Tanforan airfield in [[San Bruno, ~~using~~California]] and landed on the ''Pennsylvania'', which was the first successful shipboard landing of an aircraft.<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1910s/ev-1911/ely-pa.htm Accessed February 8, 2007.]</ref><ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-e/eb-ely.htm Accessed February 8, 2007.]</ref> This flight was also the first ever using a [[tailhook]] system, designed and built by circus performer &and aviator [[Hugh Armstrong Robinson\|Hugh Robinson]].<ref name="proceedings"/> Ely told a reporter: "It was easy enough. I think the trick could be successfully turned nine times out of ten." [[File:Ely landing 1911 h01385.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|left\|First fixed-wing aircraft landing on a warship: Ely landing his plane on board the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay, 18 January 1911.]]