For many San Diegans, Jan. 26, 1911, marked a landmark moment in aviation history. On that day, pioneering aviator Glenn H. Curtiss made what is recognized as the first successful seaplane flight in the United States, taking off from the water in a float-equipped aircraft and demonstrating that airplanes could reliably operate from the surface of San Diego Bay.
Curtiss was already an established figure in early aviation, known for innovative aircraft designs and record-setting flights. By the winter of 1910–1911, he had established a winter flying school on North Island, where conditions were favorable for experimenting with aircraft modifications. There, Curtiss and his team adapted a biplane by adding pontoon floats, creating a hydro-aeroplane capable of rising from and returning to water — a technical leap that expanded what aircraft could do.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 27F, Image No. SIA_000095_B27F_156. Dr. Albert F. Zahm / At Hammondsport, N.Y., during tests of large Langley plane, in May and June, 1914. / Glenn H. Curtiss (left) Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives/public domain)On that cold January morning, spectators on the shoreline and aboard nearby boats watched as Curtiss’s float-equipped aircraft lifted off from the surface of San Diego Bay and flew above the water. Rather than a simple stunt, the flight proved the practical capabilities of seaplanes at a time when powered flight itself was barely a decade old.
Glenn Hammond Curtiss (21 May 1878 – 23 July 1930) was an aviation pioneer and the founder of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. (Photo via Wikipedia/public domain)“The aircraft rose from the water, glided over the bay, and gracefully landed,” noted historical accounts, marking a milestone for American aviation innovation.
Curtiss’s success drew attention from military observers, including representatives of the U.S. Navy, which was exploring how aircraft might support reconnaissance and naval operations. The demonstration in San Diego and subsequent experiments — including Curtiss’s demonstration alongside the battleship USS Pennsylvania in February 1911 — helped convince naval authorities of the value of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft.
The aircraft that evolved from Curtiss’s early experiments — later known as the Curtiss A-1 Triad — became the U.S. Navy’s first aircraft model. The Triad, named for its ability to operate on land, sea, and air, was delivered to the Navy in 1911 and marked the official beginning of U.S. naval aviation programs.
110211-N-ZS026-242 SAN DIEGO (Feb. 11, 2011) A 1911 Curtiss A-1 Triad seaplane from the San Diego Air and Space Museum taxis to the boat ramp at Naval Air Station North Island. Hundreds of current and historic Navy aircraft are on display at the Naval Air Station North Island flight line to participate in the Centennial of Naval Aviation Open House and Parade of Flight Feb. 12. The Navy is observing the Centennial of Naval Aviation with a series of nationwide events celebrating 100 years of heritage, progress, and achievement in naval aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Trevor Welsh/Released via Wikipedia/public domain)The lasting impact of that January 1911 flight extended beyond military innovation. The success of seaplanes in San Diego Bay helped establish San Diego’s emerging reputation as a center for aviation development. Curtiss’s winter training operations on North Island are now commemorated as part of the region’s aviation heritage; the site later became Naval Air Station North Island, often referred to as the “Birthplace of Naval Aviation.”
Glenn H. Curtiss portrait. This work is from the George Grantham Bain collection at the Library of Congress via Wikipedia/pubic domain.More than a century later, the echoes of that flight still ripple through the community’s aviation identity. Museums, historical markers, and annual celebrations continue to honor Curtiss’s achievements, and San Diego’s long connection to flight — from early seaplanes to carrier aviation and beyond — can be traced back to that January day over the water.
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SourcesSan Diego Air & Space Museum — Glenn H. Curtiss and early seaplane development, including the A‑1 Triad history. San Diego History Center — Historical accounts of Curtiss’s January 26, 1911, seaplane flight.Smithsonian Institution Archives — Glenn H. Curtiss flight test photo (1914, CC0): siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_404363
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