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Aerial Experiment Association / Curtiss June Bug / Loon
The June Bug was one of the lightest of biplanes, having a wing spread of forty-two feet and an area of 370 square feet. The wings were transversely arched, being furthest apart at the center: an arrangement which has not been continued. It had a box tail, with a steering rudder of about six square feet area, above the tail. The horizontal rudder, in front, had a surface of twenty square feet. Four triangular ailerons were used for stability. The machine had a landing frame and wheels, and weighed, in operation, 650 pounds.
In 1909 Curtiss exhibited intricate curved flights at Mineola, and circled Governor’s Island in New York harbor. In 1910 he made his famous flight from Albany to New York, stopping en route, as prearranged. At Atlantic City he flew fifty miles over salt water. A flight of seventy miles over Lake Erie was accomplished in September of the same year, the return trip being made the following day.
Curtiss fitted twin pontoons to his June Bug, renamed it Loon, and tested it in June 1909. It attained a surface speed of 27mph would not leave the water. During subsequent attempts it went out of control, sank in the shallows, and became frozen in the ice.
On January 26, 1911, Curtiss repeatedly ascended and descended, with the aid of hydroplanes, in San Diego Bay, California.
The June Bug was used by Curtiss for a total of 32 flights. It then crashed on 2 January 1909 and went into retirement.
Curtiss fitted pontoons to his June Bug, renamed it Loon, and tested it in June 1909, but it would not leave the water.
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