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Photo # NH 77588:  Eugene Ely's stands by his airplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania to return to land, 18 January 1911

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

Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Ely with his Plane on board the Ship


This page features all the views we have of Eugene Ely posing with his airplane after his 18 January 1911 landing on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4)..

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 77588

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Stands by his Curtiss pusher biplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January 1911.
    Earlier in the day he landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane had alighted on a warship.
    Pennsylvania was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Note the light emergency floats under the plane's lower wings and Ely's flying attire, including rubber inner tubes worn around his shoulders as a life preserver. The hooks on the bottom of the plane's undercarriage were used to catch lines placed across the ship's landing platform in order to bring the aircraft to a stop.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77521

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Standing by his Curtiss pusher biplane on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), after he landed on board while the ship was at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California, 18 January 1911.
    Note the bulged area in the rubber inner tubes he used as a life preserver.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 90KB; 575 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77579

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January 1911. Earlier in the day he landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane had landed on a warship.
    Note Ely's flying attire, including a leather helmet and rubber inner tubes worn around his shoulders as a life preserver.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 610 x 675 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77506

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), while preparing to take off on his return flight to Tanforan field, San Francisco, California, 18 January 1911.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77497

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during preparations for his return flight to Tanforan field, San Francisco, California, 18 January 1911.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77530

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), while preparing for his return flight to Tanforan field, San Francisco, California, 18 January 1911.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 570 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77564

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane, while preparing to take off from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January 1911. The ship was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Photographed by Weidner.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77531

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), shortly before flying off the ship to return to Tanforan field, San Francisco, California, 18 January 1911.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 570 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77525

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    In his Curtiss pusher biplane, ready to take off from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January 1911. The ship was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 575 x 765 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 31 December 2002