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Naval History and Heritage Command

NH 77507 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911

Photo #: NH 77507 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911
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Title: First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911
Description: 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 History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Catalog #: NH 77507
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