Hero of the air

the long version

In this biography, William F. Trimble examines the pioneering work of Glenn Curtiss, a key figure in the development of the airplane during the early part of the century. This book's careful examination of his partnership with the Navy breaks new ground in revealing significant new details of his contributions. Curtiss helped meet the special requirements of the service for aircraft, particularly those with the potential for operating with naval vessels at sea or in conducting long-distance flights over water. He also was instrumental in training the first naval aviators. Curtiss and the Navy continued their collaboration through World War I, reaching a climax in 1919 with the first transatlantic flight of the famed Navy-Curtiss NC flying boat. This book addresses the broader implications of the Curtiss-Navy collaboration in the context of the longstanding trend of government-private cooperation in the introduction and development of new technologies. It also helps lay to rest the persistent myth that the Navy resisted the introduction of aviation.