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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

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

 

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20 December 2002