Aerial Experiment Association
Encyclopedia
The Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) was a Canadian aeronautical research group formed on 30 September 1907, under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell
. According to Bell, it was a "co-operative scientific association, not for gain but for the love of the art and doing what we can to help one another."
The AEA came into being when John Alexander Douglas McCurdy
and his friend Frederick W. "Casey" Baldwin, two recent engineering graduates of the University of Toronto
, decided to spend the summer in Baddeck, Nova Scotia
. McCurdy had grown up there, and his father was the personal secretary of Dr. Bell. He had grown up close to the Bell family and was well received in their home. One day, as the three sat with Dr. Bell discussing the problems of aviation, Mabel Bell
, Alexander's wife, suggested they create a formal research group to exploit their collective ideas. Being independently wealthy, she provided a total of US$35,000 (approximately $ in current dollars) to finance the Association, with $20,000 made available immediately by the sale of property.
Glenn H. Curtiss
, the American motorcycle designer and manufacturer and recognized expert on gasoline engines, was recruited as a member of the association. Curtiss had visited the Wright Cycle Company
to discuss aeronautical engineering with Wilbur and Orville Wright, and wrote offering them use of a 50-hp engine, but Wilbur cordially declined, assuring him that a motor of their own development met their power needs, unaware that the AEA was about to become a serious competitor in powered flight. Bell wrote to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
to have an interested young officer who had volunteered his help, US Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge
, officially detailed to Baddeck. Selfridge was detailed to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
on August 3, 1907, two days after its formation, and sent to Nova Scotia. A year later he became the first person killed in an airplane accident while flying with one of the Wright Brothers on September 17, 1908.
The AEA collaboration led to very public success. Casey Baldwin became the first Canadian and first British subject pilot on 12 March 1908 flight of Red Wing
. Its successor, White Wing
was the first plane to have Bell's aileron
s. One of their planes, the June Bug, won the Scientific American
Trophy by making the first official one kilometer flight in North America, although, the Wrights had already accomplished this in 1904. Their fourth flying machine, the Silver Dart
, constructed in 1908, made the first controlled powered flight in Canada on 23 February 1909 when it was flown off the ice of Bras d'Or Lake
near Baddeck by McCurdy, who had been one of its designers.
On 10 March 1909, McCurdy set a record when he flew the airplane on a circular course over a distance of more than 32 km (19.9 mi), a feat that the Wrights had already accomplished in 1905. The Association made the first passenger flight in Canada on 2 August, also in the Silver Dart. Much development also took place in Hammondsport, New York
where experimentation was done on development on Curtiss' pioneering seaplane
experiments, before Henri Fabre
in France successfully flew the first powered seaplane in history, the Fabre Hydravion, in March 1910. The AEA organisation disbanded on 31 March 1909.
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
. According to Bell, it was a "co-operative scientific association, not for gain but for the love of the art and doing what we can to help one another."
The AEA came into being when John Alexander Douglas McCurdy
John Alexander Douglas McCurdy
John Alexander Douglas McCurdy was a Canadian aviation pioneer and the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1947 to 1952. -Early years:...
and his friend Frederick W. "Casey" Baldwin, two recent engineering graduates of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, decided to spend the summer in Baddeck, Nova Scotia
Baddeck, Nova Scotia
Baddeck is a Canadian village in Victoria County, Nova Scotia.It is the county's shire town and is situated on the northern shore of Bras d'Or Lake on Cape Breton Island...
. McCurdy had grown up there, and his father was the personal secretary of Dr. Bell. He had grown up close to the Bell family and was well received in their home. One day, as the three sat with Dr. Bell discussing the problems of aviation, Mabel Bell
Mabel Gardiner Hubbard
Mabel Gardiner Hubbard , was the daughter of Boston lawyer Gardiner Hubbard—the first president of the Bell Telephone Company...
, Alexander's wife, suggested they create a formal research group to exploit their collective ideas. Being independently wealthy, she provided a total of US$35,000 (approximately $ in current dollars) to finance the Association, with $20,000 made available immediately by the sale of property.
Glenn H. Curtiss
Glenn Curtiss
Glenn Hammond Curtiss was an American aviation pioneer and a founder of the U.S. aircraft industry. He began his career as a bicycle then motorcycle builder and racer, later also manufacturing engines for airships as early as 1906...
, the American motorcycle designer and manufacturer and recognized expert on gasoline engines, was recruited as a member of the association. Curtiss had visited the Wright Cycle Company
Wright Cycle Company
The bicycle business of the Wright brothers, the Wright Cycle Company occupied five different locations in Dayton, Ohio. Orville and Wilbur Wright began their bicycle repair business in 1892, and soon added rentals and sales. In 1896 they began manufacturing and selling bicycles of their own...
to discuss aeronautical engineering with Wilbur and Orville Wright, and wrote offering them use of a 50-hp engine, but Wilbur cordially declined, assuring him that a motor of their own development met their power needs, unaware that the AEA was about to become a serious competitor in powered flight. Bell wrote to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
to have an interested young officer who had volunteered his help, US Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge
Thomas Selfridge
Thomas Etholen Selfridge was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and the first person to die in a crash of a powered airplane. He was a passenger while Orville Wright was piloting the aircraft.-Biography:...
, officially detailed to Baddeck. Selfridge was detailed to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps
The Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps was the world's first heavier-than-air military aviation organization and the progenitor of the United States Air Force. A component of the U.S...
on August 3, 1907, two days after its formation, and sent to Nova Scotia. A year later he became the first person killed in an airplane accident while flying with one of the Wright Brothers on September 17, 1908.
The AEA collaboration led to very public success. Casey Baldwin became the first Canadian and first British subject pilot on 12 March 1908 flight of Red Wing
AEA Red Wing
|-References:NotesBibliography*. Retrieved: 19 May 2005.-See also:...
. Its successor, White Wing
AEA White Wing
-See also:...
was the first plane to have Bell's aileron
Aileron
Ailerons are hinged flight control surfaces attached to the trailing edge of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. The ailerons are used to control the aircraft in roll, which results in a change in heading due to the tilting of the lift vector...
s. One of their planes, the June Bug, won the Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
Trophy by making the first official one kilometer flight in North America, although, the Wrights had already accomplished this in 1904. Their fourth flying machine, the Silver Dart
AEA Silver Dart
-References:NotesBibliography* Aerial Experimental Association . Aerofiles. . Retrieved: 19 May 2005.* Green, H. Gordon. The Silver Dart: The Authentic Story of the Hon. J.A.D. McCurdy, Canada's First Pilot. Fredericton, New Brunswick: Atlantic Advocate Book, 1959.* Milberry, Larry. Aviation in...
, constructed in 1908, made the first controlled powered flight in Canada on 23 February 1909 when it was flown off the ice of Bras d'Or Lake
Bras d'Or Lake
Bras d'Or Lake is a large body of salt water dominating the centre of Cape Breton Island in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Bras d'Or Lake is sometimes referred to as the Bras d'Or Lakes or the Bras d'Or Lakes system, however its official geographic name is Bras d'Or Lake as it is a singular...
near Baddeck by McCurdy, who had been one of its designers.
On 10 March 1909, McCurdy set a record when he flew the airplane on a circular course over a distance of more than 32 km (19.9 mi), a feat that the Wrights had already accomplished in 1905. The Association made the first passenger flight in Canada on 2 August, also in the Silver Dart. Much development also took place in Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 731 at the 2000 census. The village is named after its founding father.The Village of Hammondsport is in the Town of Urbana and is northeast of Bath, New York....
where experimentation was done on development on Curtiss' pioneering seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
experiments, before Henri Fabre
Henri Fabre
Henri Fabre was a French aviator and the inventor of Le Canard, the first seaplane in history.Henri Fabre was born into a prominent family of shipowners in the city of Marseilles. He was educated in the Jesuit College of Marseilles, where he undertook advanced studies in sciences. He then studied...
in France successfully flew the first powered seaplane in history, the Fabre Hydravion, in March 1910. The AEA organisation disbanded on 31 March 1909.
Aircraft designed and constructed
- Aerodrome 1 Red WingAEA Red Wing|-References:NotesBibliography*. Retrieved: 19 May 2005.-See also:...
(1908) Single-seat single-engine biplane - Aerodrome 2 White WingAEA White Wing-See also:...
(1908) Single-seat single-engine biplane - Aerodrome 3 June Bug (1908) Single-seat single-engine biplane
- Aerodrome 4 Silver DartAEA Silver Dart-References:NotesBibliography* Aerial Experimental Association . Aerofiles. . Retrieved: 19 May 2005.* Green, H. Gordon. The Silver Dart: The Authentic Story of the Hon. J.A.D. McCurdy, Canada's First Pilot. Fredericton, New Brunswick: Atlantic Advocate Book, 1959.* Milberry, Larry. Aviation in...
(1909) Single-engine biplane - Aerodrome 5 CygnetAEA Cygnet|-Specifications :-See also:...
(1912) Single-engine single-seat aircraft with unorthodox wing