Curtiss Model D

The Curtiss Model D, often called the “Curtiss Pusher,” was the first successful production aircraft built by the pioneering American firm Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. First flown in 1911, the Model D emerged from Glenn Curtiss’s earlier experimental biplanes and quickly proved reliable enough for both military and civilian use. Its wood‑frame, fabric‑covered wings were mounted in a distinctive pusher configuration, with the propeller located behind the pilot and a forward‑facing elevator mounted on a boom. Powered originally by a 50‑horse‑power Curtiss V‑type engine, later versions employed up to 90 horsepower, giving a top speed of roughly 55 mph and a service ceiling near 3,500 feet. The aircraft’s simple controls, sturdy undercarriage, and ease of repair made it popular with early flight schools, the United States Army Signal Corps, and foreign buyers such as the British Royal Naval Air Service. The Model D’s success helped establish Curtiss as the leading American aircraft manufacturer of the 1910s and demonstrated the viability of a standardized production line in aviation. Its widespread use paved the way for more advanced designs and laid foundational techniques still evident in modern aircraft engineering.