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1910 Curtiss Albany Flyer Replica Crashes

A replica of a Curtiss Albany Flyer belonging to the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in New York crashed during a test flight June 18.


Curtiss Albany Flyer. Courtesy of the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum

June 20, 2010 — A replica of a 1910 Curtiss Albany Flyer crashed Friday afternoon (June18) near Penn Yan airport in New York State, seriously injuring pilot Harlan “Jim” Poel.  The replica is owned by the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York and the crash has thrown into doubt both the facility’s summer flying plans and its participation in a naval anniversary next year.

The museum had hoped to re-enact a historic flight from Albany to New York City by the original aircraft in 1910.  The aircraft was also to take part in naval celebrations in Florida and California next year to mark the 100th anniversary of naval aviation that was to include a takeoff from an aircraft carrier.

Due to the damage to the aircraft, the museum may not see a need to rebuild the aircraft since the opportunity to participate in the upcoming events is lost Trafford Doherty, the museum's executive director, told the Elmira Star-Gazzette. The decision to rebuild is up to the volunteers in the museum’s restoration shop.  A 1911 Curtiss A-1 may stand in to fly in some of the re-enactments if Poel has recovered in time and the museum’s executive board approves.