AEA Aerodrome No.1 Red Wing

1908


	Virtual Aircraft Museum / USA / AEA

The first AEA aeroplane was named Red Wing because of the colour of its fabric covering. It was a biplane with a movable elevator ahead of the wings and a fixed stabilizer behind. A movable rudder was provided, but no means oflateral controL Since it was to be flown from ice, it used skids for an undercarriage. The 'sponsor', or principal designer, was Lt Selfridge.

The first of two flights was made by Thomas Baldwin on 12 March, 1908, since Selfridge was absent on Army business. The flight covered a distance of 97m and ended in a crash landing. This has been represented as the first public aeroplane flight in the United States, and figured in the subsequent controversies with the Wrights. The second flight, on 18 March, also ending in a crash, covered only 37m and proved the need for lateral control.

Peter M. Bowers "Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947", 1979

Specification

ENGINE	1 x 40hp Curtiss air-cooled V-8
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	258 kg	569 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	13.2 m	43 ft 4 in
Wing area	35.76 m²	384.92 sq ft

Comments

john passant, e-mail, 07.05.2012 20:17

Was this the same Lt Selfridge as was killed in a crash with one of the Wright brothers on Army trials...for which Selfridge AFB is named? The other Wright brother was attending an air show in France when thid occured...

lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024

john passant

Roy Mize, e-mail, 08.05.2011 09:00
Pilot was F.W. 'Casey' Baldwin, no relation to Thomas Baldwin. Search on 'Members of Aerial Experiment Association"

Frederick Wallace Baldwin.
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