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100 Years of Naval Aviation. Langley’s flying machine . First flight of the Wright Flyer 1, Orville piloting, Wilbur running at wingtip. Washington Irving Chambers,1856 – 1934. Glenn Curtis. The A-1 “Triad” hydroaeroplane. Early 1911. January - 1 st Carrier landing
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First flight of the Wright Flyer 1, Orville piloting, Wilbur running at wingtip.
Glenn Curtis The A-1 “Triad” hydroaeroplane.
Early 1911 • January - 1st Carrier landing • January – 1st Curtis Hydroaeroplane flight • March – 1st Funds allocated for “experimental work in the development of aviation for naval purposes”. • March – 1st Marine Pilot – Lt. Alfred Cunningham • May – 8 This date upon which the Navy ordered its first airplane has been officially proclaimed to be the birthday of Naval Aviation.
The Pre WW I Years • Continued Development: • Catapults • Instrumentation; e.g., Sperry Gyroscope • Wind Tunnel • Seaplanes • Aviation Medicine • Naval Aeronautic Station Pensacola, FL • Quantanamo Bay Aviation Camp • Anti-submarine Warfare
GUANTANAMO BAY AVIATION CAMP NAVAL AERONAUTIC STATION PENSACOLA, FL
At WW 1 War’s End - 11/18 • The strength of Naval Aviation had grown to a force of: • 6,716 Naval Officers (48 pilots, 4/17) • 30,693 Navy enlisted men • 282 Marine Corps Officers • 2,180 Marine enlisted units • 2,107 aircraft (54 aircraft, 4/17) • Numerous lighter-than-air craft
Transitions • WW II to Korea to Vietnam to Gulf Wars • Propeller A/C to Jet Propelled • Straight Wing Jets to Swept Wing • Aircraft Carrier Design • Angled Deck • Steam Catapults • Optical Landing System • Nuclear Propulsion
776 aircraft destroyed in 1954 39 aircraft destroyed in 1996 Naval AviationMishap Rate FY 50-97 Angled decks Aviation Safety Center Naval Aviation Maintenance Program established in 1959 (NAMP) RAG concept initiated NATOPS Program initiated 1961 Squadron Safety program System Safety Designated Aircraft ACT 1.84 FY
Credits • 100 Years of U.S. Navy Air Power • Edited by Douglas V. Smith • Forward by G.H.W. Bush • DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND • Naval Aviation Publications • United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995 (12 parts) • Wikipedia • Naval Aviation News 1943- Spring 2011