[Patrick L.]

Many think that Lindberg was the first to cross the Atlantic and try to argue with you about it. He was the first to do it solo which was quite an accomplishment. The Ryan built craft was so full of fuel tanks that a periscope was needed for what little forward vision there was. Lindberg had a lot of influence in aviation after that including WW2 military flight, he advocated running lean of peak which was pretty much taboo at the time.

The first transatlantic flight was made by either 3 or 4 NC [ Navy Curtiss ] aircraft in 1919. Mr Curtiss wanted to make the flight earlier but wasn't allowed because there was a war going on at the time. One aircraft finished the flight, I think it was NC4.

Mr Curtiss first became famous thru racing motorbikes. He built great engines at the time and then realized aviators would pay 3 to 4 times more for his engines than bikers.

The Wrights were very secretive about their doings, Curtiss was not. Curtiss first flight was in Pleasant Valley and the public was welcome. Curtiss airplanes also took off under their own power, no catapults were needed as with the Wright aircrafts.

I used to enjoy working at both the Curtiss museums but have not been there for quite some time.