The USN’s second plane, the 1912 patrol amphibian Curtiss A-2, or OWL, was converted from the 1911 Model E landplane. Ordered by the Navy in May 1911 as a standard model E pusher landplane and taken into service as the A-2. With two seats and 50hp Curtiss pusher engine, later replaced by 60hp V-8, it was unofficially dubbed OWL for “Over Water and Land” when experimental wheels were added.
Flying the Curtiss Pusher – Frank Tallman
With a modified with cabin enclosure, it was re-designated E-1 in Sept 1913, then AX-1 in March 1914.
The sole example crashed on 27 November 1915 after 91 flights and was scrapped.
Work was begun by Curtiss in late 1913 on the OWL II, while utilising the same model E components, featured a more pointed V-bottom hull and improved housings for the tricycle wheels. The OWL II was reportedly in 1914.
Replica:
Coolbaugh Curtiss-Ely 1911
Curtiss E
First flight: 1912
Wing span: 12.3m / 40 ft
Length: 7.9m / 26 ft
Weight: 677 kg / 1490 lb
Model E-4
Engine: 1 x 40hp 4-cylinder water-cooled Curtiss
Take-off weight: 272 kg / 600 lb
Wingspan: 10.77 m / 35 ft 4 in
Length: 7.85 m / 25 ft 9 in
Height: 2.44 m / 8 ft 0 in
Max. Speed: 64 km/h / 40 mph
All Aero 