Aea June Bug

The June Bug (or '''Aerodrome #3''') was an early aircraft designed by Glenn Curtiss and built by the Aerial Experiment Association in 1908 . Curtiss himself flew it on May 21 , and its performance was so encouraging that the Association decided to use the aircraft to attempt to collect the '' Scientific American '' trophy for the first flight of over 1 kilometer (3,280 ft). It was possibly named after the common June Bug insect.

The AEA contacted the Wright Brothers , offering them the chance to make an attempt first, but when they declined the opportunity, Curtiss took to the air on July 4 , flying 5,360 ft (1.6 km) in a flight of 1 minute 40 seconds, and therefore collecting the trophy and a 25,000 cash prize. Amidst the publicity following the flight, the Wrights sent a warning to Curtiss that they had not given permission for the use of "their" aircraft control system to be used "for exhibitions or in a commercial way". In fact, none of the AEA's aircraft used a wing-warping system like the Wrights' for control, relying instead on triangular ailerons designed by Alexander Graham Bell , which he successfully patented in December 1911 . However, the courts upheld even this as an application of the Wright's patent in 1913. As early as three years previous to June Bug's flight, the Wrights had made flights of up to 24 miles (38 km), but their aircraft did not meet the criteria specified by ''Scientific American'', in particular, with regard to the way they were launched.

From October and November, the June Bug was modified by adding floats to it in an attempt to create a Seaplane . Renamed Loon, attempts to fly it began on Keuka Lake on November 28 . Although the aircraft could achieve speeds of up to 29 mph (43 km/h) on the water, it could not take off, and on January 2 , 1909 went out of control and sank. When it was recovered, it finally rotted away in a nearby boathouse.

SPECIFICATIONS (JUNE BUG)

	plane Or Copter	plane
	jet Or Prop	prop
	crew	1
	length Main	27 ft 6 in
	length Alt	838 m
	span Main	42 ft 6 in
	span Alt	130 m
	height Main	ft in
	height Alt	m
	area Main	ft&sup2
	area Alt	m&sup2
	empty Weight Main	lb
	empty Weight Alt	kg
	loaded Weight Main	lb
	loaded Weight Alt	kg
	max Takeoff Weight Main	lb
	max Takeoff Weight Alt	kg
	number Of Props	1
	engine (prop)	Curtiss
	type Of Prop	air-cooled V-8 Engine
	power Main	40 hp
	power Alt	30 kW
	max Speed Main	39 mph
	max Speed Alt	62 km/h
	range Main	1 mi
	range Alt	16 km
	power/mass Main	hp/lb
	power/mass Alt	W/kg
	loading Main	lb/ft&sup2
	loading Alt	kg/m&sup2

Information About

Aea June Bug