BRIEFING AV I AT ION HISTORY / Glenn Curtiss was an aviation pioneer, founding the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, later the CurtissWright Corporation in 1909. His experiments with seaplanes led to advancements in naval aviation. Glenn Curtiss 'The Father of Naval Aviation' January 26, 1911 Glenn H. Curtiss made the first successful seaplane flight in America. Curtiss fitted floats to a biplane, then took off from and landed on water. Curtiss' contributions to seaplane innovation included flying boats. 42 AOPA PILOT / January 2025 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS