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Photo # NH 82737:  Eugene Ely's's airplane nears the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1910s -- 1911

Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Landing on the Ship


This page features all the views we have of Eugene Ely's 18 January 1911 landing on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4).
These photographs are presented in approximate chronological order for two vantage points: off the ship; and on board her.

For a historical overview of Ely's historic flight to USS Pennsylvania, and links to comprehensive pictorial coverage on other aspects of the event, see:

  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Narrative and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 76510

    First airplane landing on a warship,
    18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane approaches the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), in San Francisco Bay, California, 18 January 1911.
    Another armored cruiser is anchored beyond Pennsylvania.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 560 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1385

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely lands his Curtiss pusher biplane on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77498

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely lands his Curtiss pusher biplane on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), which was anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.
    The San Francisco waterfront is visible in the left distance.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77574

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely lands his Curtiss pusher biplane on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), which was anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Photographed by Weidner.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77582

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane approaches the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82737

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane nears the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 635 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77500

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane nears the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77507

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane about to touch down on the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Note the arresting system, consisting of lines stretched across the platform, with sandbag weights at each end. The lines, which were to be engaged by hooks on the airplane, were held above the deck by two rows of boards laid fore and aft. Canvas awnings were erected on both sides of the platform to catch the plane (and pilot) if it veered over the edge.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77607

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane about to alight on the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Note that Ely has his elevator down to compensate for an unexpected updraft the plane encountered as it came over the landing platform's after end.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77501

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane about to touch down on the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77608

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane lands aboard USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.
    The plane has now caught the first lines of the arresting gear, and sandbags at the ends of the lines are being pulled along the landing platform as the plane moves forward.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     

    For a historical overview of Ely's historic flight to USS Pennsylvania, and links to comprehensive pictorial coverage on other aspects of the event, see:

  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Narrative and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 22 December 2002
    New image added 21 January 2003