Propeller from the Airplane Flown by Glenn Curtiss at the First Gordon Bennett Airplane Race, August 1909

01

Artifact Overview

Before turning his energies to aviation, Glenn Curtiss successfully raced motorcycles. It's no surprise, then, that he eagerly participated in airplane competitions. Curtiss won the inaugural Gordon Bennett Airplane Race in Reims, France, in 1909. Curtiss averaged an impressive 46.5 miles per hour in his Rheims Racer, the airplane he designed specifically for the contest.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Propeller

Date Made

1908-1909

Subject Date

1909

Place of Creation

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Heroes of the Sky

Object ID

60.66.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ralph Webster.

Material

Wood (Plant Material)
Steel (Alloy)

Dimensions

Height: 7 in
Width: 86 in
Length: 3.5 in