Shop Overview
Restoration activities began in earnest when the Curtiss Museum moved to its new and much larger facility on Route 54 in 1992. Entirely staffed by volunteers, the Restoration Shop provides many
services to the museum. Everything from building and repairing equipment and displays, to restoring originals or building reproductions of Curtiss aircraft and other vehicles lies within the
wide range of activities regularly performed by this dedicated group of craftsmen.
Select Videos:
Story Behind the Curtiss A-1 - Part I (3:57)
Story Behind the Curtiss A-1 - Part II (3:36)
Story Behind the Curtiss A-1 - Part III (2:32)
Glenn Curtiss Museum Volunteer Builders (00:35)
Glenn Curtiss “America“ Construction - Part I (00:54)
Glenn Curtiss “America“ Construction - Part II (04:26)
Glenn Curtiss “America“ Construction - Part III (07:09)
Glenn Curtiss “America“ Construction - Part IV (09:56)
"America" Water Test (4:40)
1914 Curtiss America
A 72-foot wingspan reproduction of the 1914 Curtiss flying boat America was completed by the
museum’s Restoration Shop crew in early September 2007. Escorted by county sheriff personnel, the plane was transported by trailer to the boat launch at Hammondsport’s Depot Park. There the America was reassembled, launched and towed several hundred feet down the shoreline to a special site where it would receive final preparation for flight. The museum greatly appreciates the generous help received from Mercury Aircraft - for personnel, use of trucks and the construction of this set-up area.
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The first taxi tests, done on September 8, pointed out the need for additional adjustments. Balance issues were addressed by redistributing weight here and there and additional taxi tests were then done with slightly better results. One major complication that the America project faced was that the two 100 hp special OXX6 engines sent out for major overhaul had not been finished. The crew was then obliged to pull two standard 90 hp OX5 engines from the museum collection and ready them for use on the America. These engines proved to be not powerful enough for a successful flight.
On September 15, to the delight of many hundreds of spectators, the America was again brought around to the Depot Park area for its christening ceremony. Strikingly beautiful with its crimson paint and impressive size, it was thrilling just to see in on the water. After the ceremony, pilots Jim Poel and Lee Sackett treated those
assembled to an extensive water taxiing demonstration back and forth across the head of the lake, with ample opportunity for photos.
Echoing Glenn Curtiss’s spirit of invention, experimentation and innovation, the Restoration Shop crew will focus on improvements to the America during the next year with hope that it will fly in September 2008. 
Curtiss 1911 A-1
Completed in 2004, the A1 has performed beautifully in flights during September's Seaplane Homecomings of 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Piloted by Jim Poel, the A1 demonstrated several "firsts" in 2005. It was flown with a new float, new wheels and anti-skid panels. It was flown higher and faster, made its first turn and taxied with two persons on board. In 2006, Jim flew the A1 to the Bluff and back - a distance of 7 miles.
Also achieved in 2006 was a flight with 2 persons aboard and a full tank of gas.
