Eugene Ely's historic landing, 100 years ago {San Francisco Bay}

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/18/11 | Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer

[SmithL]

One hundred years ago Tuesday, Eugene Ely, a 26-year-old automobile racer-turned-aviator, landed a fragile-looking biplane on the deck of the Navy cruiser Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay and made flying history.

It was the first time an airplane had landed on a warship, and it marked the start of naval aviation.

Ely, a civilian the newspapers called "a daring birdman," kissed his wife, saluted the officer of the deck, shook hands with the ship's captain, had a glass of nonalcoholic punch and took off again, bound for a landing field at what is now the Tanforan Shopping Center in San Bruno.

"I believe the performance of Ely spells a new chapter in aviation history," wrote Capt. Charles F. Pond, commanding officer of the Pennsylvania. "There can hardly be too much said in praise of it. It was simply marvelous."

Ely's flight, which came only seven years and one month after the Wright Brothers flew their first plane, was in every way historic. Though Ely had flown a plane from a Navy ship off Hampton Roads, Va., in 1910, no one had ever landed aboard a ship.

Self-assured pilot

Ely, a self-taught pilot who represented the Curtiss Airplane Co. was just the man for the job. "If I did not believe I could do it without injury to myself or my machine, I would not attempt it," he said.

The Curtiss firm had a primitive "flight deck" 130 feet long and 32 feet wide built on the stern of the Pennsylvania at Mare Island.

[SmithL]

[skeeter]

Hard to believe it happened here first.

Save for one weekend every October the navy is completely gone from SF bay these days.

[SmithL]

fyi

[golf lover]

Was not familiar with Ely’s feat. Should rank right up there with Lindbergh’s in aviation history but gets little recognition.

[JRios1968]

From the comments on the online article:
“When is the (SF City (C))ouncil pass a resolution condemning this?”

[A.A. Cunningham]

101115-N-3374C-026 NORFOLK (Nov. 15, 2010) A replica of a Curtiss-Ely Pusher is on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The original aircraft was flown off the deck of the light cruiser USS Birmingham by Eugene Ely on Nov. 14, 1910, to launch naval aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tony Curtis/Released)

101115-N-3885H-191 NORFOLK (Nov. 15, 2010) A shooter signals to retired Cmdr. Bob Coolbauth, the pilot of a replica of a Curtiss-Ely Pusher, on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The Curtiss-Ely Pusher was the first aircraft to launch from the deck of a Navy ship. The original aircraft was flown off the deck of the light cruiser USS Birmingham by Eugene Ely on Nov. 14, 1910, to launch naval aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Hall/Released)

101115-N-3885H-265 NORFOLK (Nov. 15, 2010) Retired Navy Cmdr. Bob Coolbaugh pilots a replica of a Curtiss-Ely Pusher Biplane on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The original aircraft was flown off the deck of the light cruiser USS Birmingham by Eugene Ely on Nov. 14, 1910 to launch naval aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Hall/Released)

101112-N-9589S-290 NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 12, 2010) Retired Navy Cmdr. Bob Coolbaugh, pilots his replica Ely-Curtiss Pusher aircraft on board Naval Station Norfolk, as part of a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of naval aviation. The orginal Curtis Pusher flown by Eugene Ely took off from the light cruiser USS Birmingham on Nov. 14, 1910 marking the beginning of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Richard J. Stevens/Released)

101112-N-9589S-238 NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 12, 2010) Retired Navy Cmdr. Bob Coolbaugh, pilots his replica Ely-Curtiss Pusher aircraft on board Naval Station Norfolk, as part of a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of naval aviation. The orginal Curtis Pusher flown by Eugene Ely took off from the light cruiser USS Birmingham on Nov. 14, 1910 marking the beginning of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Richard J. Stevens/Released)

101112-N-9589S-138 NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 12, 2010) Retired Navy Cmdr. Bob Coolbaugh, prepares to fly his replica Ely-Curtiss Pusher aircraft on board Naval Station Norfolk, as part of a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of naval aviation. The orginal Curtis Pusher flown by Eugene Ely took off from the light cruiser USS Birmingham on Nov. 14, 1910 marking the beginning of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Richard J. Stevens/Released)

101112-N-9589S-003 NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 12, 2010) Retired Navy Cmdr. Bob Coolbaugh, prepares to fly his replica Ely-Curtiss Pusher aircraft on board Naval Station Norfolk, as part of a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of naval aviation. The orginal Curtis Pusher flown by Eugene Ely took off from the light cruiser USS Birmingham on Nov. 14, 1910 marking the beginning of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Richard J. Stevens/Released)

101104-N-0000X-001 NORFOLK (Nov. 1910) In this file photo provided by the U.S. Naval Historical Center taken in November 1910, a floating crane from Norfolk Naval Shipyard lifts a Curtiss Model D biplane to the deck of the Chester-class cruiser USS Birmingham (CL 2). Civilian aviator Eugene B. Ely flew the plane off Birmingham on Nov. 14, 1910, the first aircraft launch from a warship. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)