[csvset]

Steve Roth, left, and Bob Coolbaugh push a replica 1910 Ely-Curtiss pusher airplane into a hangar at the Norfolk Naval Station on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. The aircraft, built by Coolbaugh, replicates the first plane to fly off a ship, thus beginning naval aviation. (Preston Gannaway | The Virginian-Pilot)

Bob Coolbaugh flies his replica 1910 plane over the Shenandoah Valley, where he has spent the past 2-1/2 years building it. (Courtesy of Bob Coolbaugh)

Sailors admire a replica 1910 Ely-Curtiss pusher airplane in a hangar at the Norfolk Naval Station on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. The aircraft replicates the first plane to fly off a ship, thus beginning naval aviation. (Preston Gannaway | The Virginian-Pilot)

[Army Air Corps]

Just plain cool.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping

[Vroomfondel]

ping

[Montanabound]

Thanks, that is awesome.

Mr Montanabound and I went to the Reno Air Races in Sept. A young LtCdr was manning a booth promoting the 100th year of Naval Aviation. I stopped in my tracks and told him that I had attended the 75th anniversary in Pensacola. It was a huge production with Bob Hope and Sammy Davis, Jr. plus ceremonies, fireworks, and an air show. He said he had heard about it (a Brit Harrier pilot had landed without putting his landing gear down, so it is still talked about). He gave me a decal and apologized because that was all he had. He said they are sending him all over the country to promote Naval Aviation, but they didn’t budget anything for it. I felt bad for him.

[PogySailor]

That’s really cool.

[OCC]

I am still amazed at how much aviation technology has advanced in just 100 years.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

[DesScorp]

Here's a pic of Ely's actual "launch" from the U.S.S Birmingham in 1910...

[packrat35]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Burton_Ely