McCurdy continued on with life as a test pilot and plane designer in the United States. Crashing their craft during testing and demonstrations made attracting the government or other financial backers impossible. They built the Baddeck I & II aerodromes. Douglas McCurdy and Casey Baldwin attempted to manufacture airplanes with their newly formed Canadian Aerodrome Company. This tragic death in part rekindled Bell's pursuit of safer flight with Tetrahedral designs. He became best known as the first passenger ever killed in an airplane crash. Selfridge died during a test flight on the Wright Brothers airplane in September of 1909. It finally crashed and was destroyed during testing for the Canadian miltary.Ī lot of people know Bell's life story quite well. However, some might wonder what ever happened to the four youngest members of the AEA? Did any of them pursue a future in aviation? Sadly, Thomas Selfridge died at a young age. It flew in various cities all over Canada and the USA.
The AEA, having accomplished all of its goals soon ended it's pursuit of powered flight. The Dart itself made at least 200 more flights during demonstrations for the public.
#ALEXANDER G BELL HUMAN KITE CARRIER SERIES#
Each aerodrome taught them something new about flight. They implemented all new ideas into each successive craft. The 4th aerodrome in the series was called the Silver Dart. Alexander strongly felt that the new Silver Dart should be test flown in Canada. The AEA group agreed with Bell. On Feb 23, 1909 the Silver Dart piloted by Douglas McCurdy flew its first powered flight on a frozen bay in Baddeck Nova Scotia, Canada. Thomas Selfridge. Using Octave Chanute's and Samuel Langley's early work on flight as a starting point, each of the four young AEA members designed and created their own motorized craft. All of them flew with great sucess. The first three Aerodromes were all built, tested and flown in the United States. The AEA members included Alexander G. Bell, Casey Baldwin, Douglas McCurdy, Glen Curtiss and Lt. The group was formed with a goal of creating a flying aerodrome within a two year time frame. Bell preferred the term aerodrome to describe his aircraft or aeroplanes. Under Mabel Bell's guidance and financial backing the Aerial Experiment Association was formed.
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