Glenn Curtiss Quiz (Info from glenncurtissmuseum.org)

Where was Glenn Curtiss born?

• Dayton, Ohio

• Hammondsport, NY

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Glenn began participating in impromptu bike races during his time working for this messenger company.

• Wells Fargo

• The Pony Express

• Western Union

• Fed Ex

What was the name of the bicycle racing team Glenn was member of?

• Hammondsport Boys

• The New York Flyers

• Tour De New Yorkers

• Rochester Boys

Answer explanation

Glenn was an accomplished bike racer as his team sponsor, James H. Smellie, once said, "Glenn was home eating his dinner when the rest of the crowd came in."

In what year did Glenn Curtis open his first successful bicycle shop?

• 1890

• 1900

• 1860

• 1898

Answer explanation

He had one in Hammondsport, New York and another in Bath, New York. Eventually his company would begin developing and designing light weight engines.

What was the name of Curtiss' brand of bicycles?

• Hercules

• Hades

• Zeus

• Thor

In what year did Curtiss begin gaining national attention for his engines, after winning 3rd place in a national race on his Hercules Motorcycle?

• 1880

• 1902

• 1995

• 1898

In January of 1907, Glenn travelled to Ormond Beach, Florida, with some of his motorcycles to participate in the official time trials being conducted there. Although he was unable to participate in the competition with his newest V8 motorcycle, he did break the world speed record to earn the title of Fastest Man on Earth. How fast was he going?

• 200mph

• 112 mph

• 136 mph

• 158mph

What was the name of the first plane that was designed by Curtiss, and flew over 5,000 feet?

• The Moth

• June Bug

• Monarch

• Wright Flyer

95% of all pilots from Canada and America learned how to fly using Curtiss' A1 Jenny fighter jet during this war.

• WW1

• WW2

• Civil War

• Vietnam

Answer explanation

After WW1 the US government sold many of these planes to civilians who used them for private use, delivering mail and barnstorming. (Barnstorming was a type of stunt flying.)

True or False: The Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss worked together very closely in their early years.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The Wright brothers beat Curtiss to flight by five years, but kept their designs very secretive. When Glenn asked them to collaborate they would not agree. Their rivalry intensified when Curtiss' Friend Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, was killed in a plane flown by Orville Wright. They were involved in a legal battle that did not end until WW1. Eventually Glenn and Orville combined to create the Curtiss-Wright company that made planes like the P-40 Warhawk.