7/23/2005 - Legislation by Kuhl to Honor Aviation Pioneer Glenn Curtiss
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) today introduced a House Resolution honoring the life of aviation pioneer Glenn Hammond Curtiss of Hammondsport. The resolution recognizes July 23, 2005, the 75th anniversary of his death, as Glenn Hammond Curtiss Day.
Glenn Curtiss (35) and Henry Ford (50) in 1913
"The American aircraft industry is what it is today because of Glenn Curtiss," said Rep. Kuhl, Vice Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee. "He is one of the most prominent people to come out of our area, and I thought it was appropriate that we take time to honor him and his achievements on the 75th anniversary of his death. From his pioneering efforts in motorcycle design and racing, to his major contributions to aviation, we owe a lot to Glenn Curtiss."
Curtiss was born in Hammondsport in 1878. In 1907, Curtiss became the "fastest man on earth" when he attained the speed of 136 miles per hour on a motorcycle. Curtiss developed the first successful seaplane, and manufactured the famous World War I training plane, the Curtiss JN-4D (commonly known as the "Jenny"). In 1911, Curtiss was known as the "father of naval aviation" and by 1921 was considered the founder of the American aircraft industry.
Glenn Curtiss founded the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company which became the largest aircraft manufacturer during World War I and went public in 1916 with manufacturing plants in Hammondsport and Buffalo. With Curtiss as President, the company produced 10,000 aircraft during World War I, more than 100 in a single week.
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company joined with Wright Aeronautical in 1929 to form the Curtiss-Wright Corporation which is still in existence today with its headquarters in Roseland, New Jersey and locations around the United States and in Switzerland.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in the Finger Lakes Region, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is located in Hammondsport and features a large collection of artifacts and mementos from Curtiss' life and work. Another Curtiss collection exists at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Kuhl and introduced today along with a bipartisan group of more than 40 cosponsors from around the nation. It is expected that the resolution will be taken up soon by the House of Representatives.
FMI: US Congressman John Kuhl
Contact: Bob Van Wicklin 202 225-3161
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