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June-Bug-1976.Pdf Flight of JuneBug By Merill Stickler Curator of Curtiss Museum Hammondsport, NY 14840 All Photos by Mike Mandiak June 23, 1976, the long awaited day of the bicen­ tennial celebration dawned with an overcast sky on the sleepy cross roads of Pleasant Valley nestled be­ tween green hills near Hammondsport, New York, the heart of the finger lake country. There was a spontane­ ous air of expectancy, however, because a collection FLIGHT OF THE JUNE BUG /I of rather quaint and delicate flying machines, with 1908 - 1976 their crews, had gathered on the little grass field along Hammondsport, NY the Bath-Hammondsport Road. It was as though time had slipped back to the turn of the century when Dr. Alexander Graham Bell's "boys" of the Aerial flight to win the Scientific American Trophy was set the work. Unfortunately, it did not show the June Bug Experiment Associa tion trundled their fragile "aero­ for June 23, 1976. (See May issue Vintage Airplane, as she was on July 4th, since modifications were so drome" from its tent to test the stillness of the morn­ page 15). numerous. The patent papers provided some excellent ing's air. That quiet time, of little wind, just after dawn In 1907 the Scientific American Magaine, in an schematic drawings. The National Air and Space and just at dusk were the hours so much appreciated effort to spur American aviation experimenters into Museum of the Smithsonian furnished drawings by those fledglings of the air. making a public flight of one kilometer under official made for a model in their collection and photographs This ' une 23rd, 1976 had special m eaning, how­ conditions, had offered a fine silver trophy for that of the June Bug. The Museum of Science and Tech­ ever, as the day would see the reenactment of America's feat. The Jamestown Exposition was deSignated for nology at Ottawa furnished information on the ori­ first official public flight of one kilometer which had the trials . Unfortunately, there were only one or two ginal and flying reproduction of the Silver Dart which occurred 68 years earlier and only a few hundred entries, none of which materialized. At that point, was the A.E.A. machine built immediately after the feet from the spot where this gathering of early fly ­ the Scientific American offered the trophy for flights June Bug experiment. The photos were the most valu­ ing machines now stood ready to reenact the scene. at any time when suitable arrangements could be able contributions from the museums. Enlargements The idea of attempting such a flight grew out of a made between aviator and Aero Club officials. The yielded much information on construction detail. suggestion by the Curator, at a director's meeting in Aerial Experiment Association requested, and was Construction started on the chassis using a Curtiss 1974, that the Curtiss Museum build a reproduction granted, a trial at Hammondsport, New York, on July motorcycle from the Curtiss Museum collection as a of the June Bug, to commemorate Glenn H . Curtiss' 4, 1908. model for the steerable front wheel just as the A.E.A. 100th birthday in 1978. A feasibility committee was The job of building June Bug II and reenacting the had done. Some changes in material and methods appointed, consisting of Joseph Meade Jr. , Carl Kohl original trial was an enormous undertaking. There were made in the interest of safety but the machine's and Ray Tillman, all of Mercury Aircraft, Inc. Within were no plans of the machine or drawings for the structure is basically like that of the original June Bug. a week these gentlemen had started construction of fittings. The Journals of the A.E.A. were searched for Among the aeroplanes gathered at Hammondsport a mock-up and June Bug II was under way. Our pro­ information concerning the June Bug. A photo of a were Cole Palen's beautiful and original type XI Bieriot, ject was soon part of the local Bicentennial Committee layout drawing was found at the Curtiss Museum in a replica of Santos-Dumont's 1910 Demoiselle, a 1910 plans and the reenactment of Glenn Curtiss' historic the Carl Adams collection, which served as a ba sis for Hanriot replica with the original control system , a 5 -I Steve Wittman and Dave Fox Intrepidpilot of the June Bug popular subjects for photographers during Saturday's show. June 26, 1976. Demoiselle powered by 65 hp Continental, better known as " The Infuriated Grass­ hopper." Cole Palen in the hopper. 100% Original American Aeroplane Supply House manu­ factured Bleriot XI powered by 50 hp Gnome engine. 1911 Curtiss Model D Pusher replica with head plane, the office. The crowd hushed, listening to the " Hisso" a replica 1913 Deperdusin Racer with 165 horse­ as it lifted the 60 year old "Jenny" into the air where power Gnome rotary and a Curtiss JN4-H. her ancestors had flown. Cole made several fly bys, In addition to these machines, we were fortunate a ribbon pickup and a demonstration of ribbon cutting. enough to have Dale Crites with his Curtiss Model D The 1913 Deperdussin was next rolled out on the "Silver Streak". With Dale, Dave Fox and Cole Palen, field where the Gnome exhibited its reluctance to run. we had gathered at Hammondsport three of the best After some priming, she caught, coughed, backfired Curtiss "shoulder yoke" pilots in the world, with four and decided to burn. A rather exciting few minutes Curtiss aeroplanes. followed while the crew used the extinguishers. On The day was spent making last minute adjustments one occasion, the Hammondsport Fire Company was and the hills echoed to the bark of testing engines. called to assist. About six o'clock, the wind began to calm and the spectators began to gather along the fences at the edge Several attempts were made to fly Cole Palen's of the strip. new Curtiss Model D Pusher, but engine trouble and The Curtiss JN4-H was fired up with Cole Palen in the wrong prop conspired to keep her grounded. 6 1911 Curtiss Model D with 1911 Hall-Scott 80 hp engine with head plane. Built by Cole Palen. Dale Crites waves at the crowd as he passes over in Silver Streak. A similiar pass with both hands held high was a crowd pleaser. Since no one had yet flown the machine, off, fly over the first ribbon, land and several "grass cutting" runs were made hop over the next. Cole flying the Bleriot and on occasion, one or two of the wheels and Dale his Pusher gave the crowd a were off. One minor accident occurred beautiful show of piloting skill and an when the axle broke, wiping out the unbelievable demonstration of the fly­ right rear wheel. Repairs were soon ing abilities of these two ancient ma­ made, however, but the reluctant Cur­ chines of the aeronautical world. tiss D remained unflown at the end of Palen's Bleriot Type XI was built by the festivities. the American Aeroplane Supply House Perhaps the most intrepid of our "Bird of Hempstead, L.I. , N.Y. in 1911 and Men" was Dale Crites of Waukesha, Wis. is remarkable in that it is all original Dale's exhibition flying with his Curtiss except for the fabric. He made a circuit Model D "Silver Streak" was nothing of the field covering a distance of about short of spectacular. On one trip past 10 miles at some 300 feet of altitude. We the reviewing stand his hands were held consider it a record for the machine and high and the crowd went wild. One ()f Cole, since the Bleriot had not made a the innovations worked out by the pilots circuit of any field since 1912 and it was was a sort of Steeple Chase using two the longest Bleriot flight in the career ribbons stretched across the field quite of the pilot. close together. The object was to take 7 Above: With much excitement Cole Palen bails out when the 1913 Deper­ dussin catches fire during the engine run up. Cole may be seen at the extreme Below: Ground handlers race to assist · 1910 Hanriot powered by 1939 Franklin 50 hp flown by Dave Fox. right. Man with fire extinguisher under Dave Fox after a fine exhibition flight right wing unknown. on Sunday, June 27, 1976. Th e specta tors were d eli g hte d by now been placed in the Curtiss Museum the replica of Santos-Dumo nt's tiny as a sou venier of the day. Demoisell e with its cruciform tail. The " Infuria ted G rassh opper" li ved up to Replacing the christening ceremony its name. during the remaining days of the meet One of the most beautiful machines was a Ii g hter-tha n-a ir d e m ons trati on demonstrated was the 1910 Hanriot with consisting of three hot ai r balloons. The its magnifica nt mahogany " hull" fuse­ pilots, Dave Steven in " Atlantis Seeker", lage. The ship incorporates the original Einar Wheel in "Sunbird" a nd Dave control system with the only concession Martindale in " Merriweather II " were to its recent con s tructio n being the able to make one fli ght on the 25th. These 1939 Franklin engine which powers it. colorful examples of man's earliest mode Her white wings were spectacular against of fli ght were plagued by the wind, as the green hills of Hammondsport. well as " h elpful" re ma rks from the June Bug II was roll ed to the front of " h eav i e r ~ than-air" boys.
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