Reading level:

Curtiss Model D Pusher

Curtiss Aeroplane · Exhibition / Pioneer Aircraft · USA · Pioneer Age (pre-1919)

The Curtiss Model D Pusher was an American single-engine pusher biplane of 1911 — the principal Curtiss aircraft of the early 1910s + one of the first American-designed aircraft to challenge Wright Brothers' commercial dominance. Glenn Curtiss designed the Model D in 1911 at Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company; first flight occurred in mid-1911. About 75 Curtiss Model D Pushers were built between 1911 and 1914 at Curtiss Hammondsport, NY. The aircraft served U.S. Army Signal Corps + U.S. Navy + civilian exhibition pilots 1911-1916.

The Model D used a Curtiss V-8 8-cylinder inline engine (75 hp). Maximum airspeed 80 km/h. The aircraft used pusher configuration (engine + propeller behind the pilot) but with notably different design from Wright pushers — Curtiss used ailerons (wingtip-mounted control surfaces) instead of Wright's wing-warping + tricycle landing gear instead of skids. The aileron innovation was particularly large — Wright Brothers held patents on wing-warping that they aggressively defended through litigation; Curtiss's aileron design avoided the Wright patents + influenced all subsequent fixed-wing aircraft control design.

Curtiss Model D Pusher service spanned U.S. Army Signal Corps + U.S. Navy + civilian exhibition. The aircraft was famously used by Eugene Ely for the world's first ship-to-shore takeoff (USS Birmingham, 14 November 1910) + the first ship landing (USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911) — establishing carrier aviation. About 5 Curtiss Model D Pusher airframes survive in 2026 at U.S. + international museums.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Curtiss Model D Pusher was a Glenn Curtiss biplane from 1911. About 75 Curtiss Model Ds were built between 1911 and 1914. The aircraft served the American Army Signal Corps, the American Navy, and civilian exhibition pilots from 1911 to 1916.

The Model D is 27 feet long with a 30-foot wingspan, smaller than a school bus. One Curtiss V-8 engine made 75 horsepower. Top speed is 50 mph, faster than most cars in 1911. The engine sat behind the pilot, pushing the plane forward with a propeller at the back, called pusher configuration.

The Curtiss Model D used ailerons (small movable surfaces near the wingtips) instead of the Wright brothers' wing-warping. The Wrights had patents on wing-warping and were suing other plane builders. Curtiss invented ailerons to avoid Wright patents. Ailerons soon became standard on all airplanes around the world.

On November 14, 1910, pilot Eugene Ely took off in a Curtiss Pusher from the cruiser USS Birmingham, the world's first plane to take off from a ship. On January 18, 1911, Ely landed his Pusher on the cruiser USS Pennsylvania, the first ship landing. These were the start of carrier aviation.

Fun Facts

The Curtiss Model D Pusher was Glenn Curtiss's main 1911 plane.
About 75 Curtiss Model Ds were built between 1911 and 1914.
The Model D is 27 feet long, smaller than a school bus.
Top speed is 50 mph, faster than most cars in 1911.
Eugene Ely flew the world's first ship takeoff in a Curtiss Pusher (1910).
Eugene Ely flew the world's first ship landing in a Curtiss Pusher (1911).
Curtiss invented ailerons to avoid Wright brothers' patents.

Kids’ Questions

What is pusher configuration?

In a pusher plane, the engine and propeller sit behind the pilot. The propeller pushes the plane forward, like a fan blowing wind from behind. In a tractor plane (most modern planes), the propeller pulls the plane forward from the front. Pushers were common in 1910 because they kept the pilot's view clear forward. Tractor planes became standard later because they were more efficient.

How did Ely land on a ship?

On January 18, 1911, the cruiser USS Pennsylvania was anchored at San Francisco. Sailors built a wooden deck on the ship with 22 sandbags attached to ropes (an early arresting gear). Eugene Ely flew his Curtiss Pusher to the ship and landed on the wooden deck. A hook under his plane caught the sandbag ropes, stopping the plane. This was the first ship landing in history.

What was the Wright patent fight?

The Wright brothers had patents on wing-warping and other flight control ideas. They sued other plane builders for using similar control systems. Glenn Curtiss invented ailerons to avoid Wright patents. The Wrights sued Curtiss anyway, claiming ailerons did the same job. The case dragged on for years and slowed American aviation. It was finally settled in WWI.

Variants

Model D (basic): Standard Curtiss production. About 75 built.

Notable Operators

U.S. Army Signal Corps + U.S. Navy: Early military adoption. ~10 airframes.
Civilian exhibition pilots: Glenn Curtiss exhibition team + independent operators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Model D used for the first carrier landing?

Yes. Eugene Ely flew a Curtiss Model D Pusher from a wooden platform on USS Birmingham on 14 November 1910 — the first ship-to-shore takeoff in history. Ely then flew a Curtiss Model D from shore + landed on USS Pennsylvania on 18 January 1911 — the first ship landing in history. These two Ely flights established the carrier-aviation concept that would dominate naval warfare in WWII + later. Ely was killed in a Curtiss Model D Pusher crash on 19 October 1911.

Why is the Model D's aileron large?

Patent + technical reasons. Wright Brothers held aggressive patents on wing-warping (the Wright lateral-control technique). Curtiss developed ailerons (wingtip-mounted control surfaces) as an alternative — avoiding the Wright patents legally + providing better lateral control mechanically. Curtiss won + lost multiple patent lawsuits with Wright over the aileron-vs-wing-warping distinction; the legal battles defined early American aviation industry through the 1910s. Modern aircraft universally use ailerons (descended from Curtiss) rather than wing-warping (Wright); the patent dispute was effectively settled by U.S. government intervention during WWI.

Sources

Wikipedia — Curtiss Model D