#OnThisDate November 14, 1910 - Skybound Breakthrough

Aviator Eugene B. Ely Achieved A Milestone In Aviation History By Successfully Taking Off From The Deck Of The USS Birmingham, A Light Cruiser Anchored In Hampton Roads, Virginia. This Feat Marked The First Time An Airplane Launched From A Ship, Paving The Way For The Development Of Naval Aviation. Ely, Piloting A Curtiss Model D Pusher Biplane, Departed From A Temporary Wooden Platform Constructed Over The Birmingham's Bow. The Platform Measured Approximately 83 Feet In Length And Sloped Downward At A Five-Degree Angle, With Its Forward Edge Positioned 37 Feet Above The Water.

Despite Adverse Weather Conditions, Including Fog And Rain, Ely Proceeded With The Flight. Upon Takeoff, The Aircraft Dipped Toward The Water, With Its Wheels And Propeller Momentarily Touching The Surface Before Gaining Altitude. This Incident Resulted In Damage To The Propeller And Obscured Ely's Goggles With Spray, Prompting Him To Land On A Nearby Beach At Willoughby Spit Rather Than Continuing To The Norfolk Navy Yard As Initially Planned. This Historic Event Was A Collaborative Effort Involving Key Figures Such As Captain Washington Irving Chambers Of The United States Navy, Who Was Tasked With Exploring The Military Applications Of Aviation, And John Barry Ryan, Head Of The U.S. Aeronautical Reserve, Who Offered Financial Support For The Construction Of The Launch Platform And A Prize For The Ship-To-Shore Flight.

Ely's Courageous Endeavor Demonstrated The Potential For Aircraft Operations At Sea, Leading To Subsequent Developments In Naval Aviation. Notably, On January 18, 1911, Ely Successfully Landed A Curtiss Pusher On A Platform Aboard The USS Pennsylvania In San Francisco Bay, Marking The First Successful Shipboard Landing Of An Aircraft. These Pioneering Achievements Laid The Foundation For The Integration Of Aircraft Into Naval Operations, Ultimately Leading To The Development Of Aircraft Carriers And Transforming Naval Warfare In The 20th Century.

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