Robert J. Collier had a sea plane at his Raquette Lake, NY camp for a month or so in 1912. He crashed it into the lake, recovered the wreckage, and shipped it home. History accounts call it a Curtiss-Wright, but C-W wasn't around until the 1920's. Anyone know exactly what he was flying?
Ken Sabel, e-mail, 09.08.2016 04:30
Paul, is there anyway you could scan me a pdf copy of that log? I am researching a book on Naval Aviation in Annapolis. I have a copy of an A-1 log through Sept 26, 1912. The date of the end of the plane you mention coincides with Ellyson's attempt to fly an A-1 from Annapolis to Washington Navy Yard for another catapault test. After several attempts, the plane was totaled. That incident was in early to mid October 1912. My email is kensabel@gmail.com
Paul Hutchins, e-mail, 31.07.2012 21:37
I have a Navy log book that records all activities af a Curtiss Hydroaeroplane...Navy number A-1 Expended October 1912. The log runs from June 27, 1911 through October 16, 2012. G.H. Curtiss made several short flights after its delivery to Hammondsport NY....it succumbed October 1912 when it was wrecked.