Glenn Curtiss beat even the Wright Brothers (who sued him bitterly) to get pilot's license No. 1. He teamed with Alexander Graham Bell, helped develop the aileron, introduced tricycle landing gear, made the first airplane sales, and turned aeronautics into a multimillion dollar business. His innovations ranged from the Curtiss Pusher to the hydroaeroplane, the flying boat, and Curtiss Jenny. Curtiss, his engines, and his airplanes dominated the world of early aviation. Book charts Curtiss' breakneck course across two continents, setting speed and distance records, experimenting with military applications, striving for faster/safer airplanes.
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