1911 Curtiss Pusher Replica Pre-Runup Photo Shoot at Creve Coeur Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

The Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum's 1911 Curtiss Type D-III Pusher replica was rolled out last Thursday for a foggy morning photo shoot at Creve Coeur Airport. The Aero Experience joined antique aircraft expert and photographer Don Parsons, Museum Director Albert Stix and legendary aircraft restorer Glenn Peck to capture the aircraft's classic lines in the field on the north side of the airport. The replica follows the original design, though incorporates some structural modifications originally intended to support its airworthiness. Though there are plans to for an engine runup later this fall, there will be no attempt to fly the aircraft.

The newest addition to the aircraft is the recently installed mahogany propeller from Culver Props in Rolla, MO. The choice of Culver Props was natural, as the company is known for their high-quality wood propellers produced to exacting standards for full and partial-scale replicas as well as for ultralight and experimental aircraft. The OX-5 engine was assembled from crates of parts and run on a test stand before the current installation.

This 1911 Curtiss D-III Pusher replica still employs the forward elevator, later removed after Lincoln Beachey flew his damaged D-III in a competition without it to great effect. The 1912 Model D "headless" Pusher was naturally the next variant produced. The museum's aircraft began as a build-from-plans project by Eddy Ridenour in Dayton, Ohio and was partially completed when it was purchased by the museum in 2019. Since then, the wings have been re-covered and the engine assembled, run and installed. More work on the turnbuckles and cables will be needed prior to the runup of the engine and possible taxi tests.   

Here we show the Curtiss D-III replica photo shoot as it unfolded between 6:30 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. August 5th:

The Curtiss D-Series of aircraft was advanced for its day. They were used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps and for U.S. Navy sea trials in the first decade of manned powered flight. The flight control system would seem unusual to modern aviators: ailerons were operated with the shoulders, the front elevator and rear rudder were operated by the control wheel/column. Records were broken, amphibious flight was developed and a second observer crew member became a practical option. Much of the progress in the U.S. aviation industry prior to WWI can be credited to Glenn Curtiss and the D-Series aircraft.