Curtiss A-1 Triad (Model E)

History

Like the U.S. Army Air Service in the early 20th century, the U.S. Navy (USN) Air Force started out modestly with a series of experimental aircraft designed to prove the viability of certain naval service concepts. The Curtiss A-1 "Triad" became the US Navy's first aircraft when it was ordered on May 8, 1911, the platform was developed as a true "amphibian" - thanks to it, they could be made from two Water take-off airfields and seaplane pontoons are arranged for the former's maneuvering and retractable wheeled undercarriage for the latter. The name "Triad" derives from this versatility of the machine, which can operate in all three dimensions - air, land and sea.

Although the A-1 was not used by the U.S. Navy for front-line operations, it still has great development value in terms of testing, doctrine and pilot training. The Triad first flew on February 25, 1911, under the company model designation "Model E".

Trials of surface aircraft such as the Triad attracted the interest of the U.S. Navy authorities in the first few years of flight. Glen Curtiss (1878-1930), the founder of his famous Curtiss Aircraft Company, showed the Navy the value of his seaplane designs when he landed them next to a U.S. Navy ship.

The ship then used its onboard cranes to recover the aircraft - leading to the concept of a seaplane observation platform, and was even used for over-the-horizon reconnaissance work in World War II (1939-1945). The U.S.

Navy went on to purchase about 14 A-1s and variants including the E-4 and E-8, but the type and power of the engines used varied (the "E-4" had a 4-cylinder engine, while the "E-8" " an 8-cylinder engine and "E-8-75" a 75 hp engine).

The A-1 provided an important foundation for U.S. naval aviation and introduced flying to the first generation of U.S. Navy pilots. Despite its rickety appearance, the Triad fits the design and construction philosophy of the time. A biplane wing assembly with parallel struts is used for support. The pontoon assembly is mounted under the aircraft, with bicycle-style landing wheels spanning the unit.

The pilot (and another passenger) sits on the front of the wing assembly, with a horizontal plane attached directly in front of his position. A car-style steering wheel is used for primary controls.

Mounted behind the pilot and between the upper and lower wing structures, the engine operates in a "propeller" arrangement, driving a two-bladed wooden propeller facing the rear of the aircraft. Thin struts and cables connect the mass of the plane to several other control and stabilization panels located at the tail of the plane.

The triad was used in the US Navy's first (semi-successful) catapult launch test and the first water landing at night. The platform is also used for early testing of ground-to-air communications and land-based endurance operations.

The A-1 series maintained this test-oriented role until its value ran out and brand new technology made the design obsolete. By the time of World War I (1914-1918), a new generation of biplane fighters had emerged to take over these early (and often deadly) feats of aviation pioneering.

A replica of the A-1 Triad hangs in the lobby of the Naval Air Museum, Pensacola, Florida, USA, while the original (airworthy) example is kept at the EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA.

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