Publisher's Synopsis
The first-ever history of an innovative recreational and commercial trailer designed and built by engineering and aviation pioneer and icon Glenn H. Curtiss. The complete history of the Curtiss Aerocar, a groundbreaking travel trailer that blended the genius of Glenn H. Curtiss with the principles of aircraft design. Curtiss was a passionate engineering and aviation pioneer who is considered one of the leading engineering minds of the 20th century. His work on motorcycles, balloons, airplanes, and of course, the Aerocar set engineering standards for decades to come. Curtiss originally conceived the Aerocar purely for his own use and was at first reluctant to make it available to the public. But eventually, Curtiss used his engineering creativity to put the Aerocar into production, and it evolved from a personal passion project to a commercial sensation that endured long after Curtiss's time. In these pages, readers will • discover how the Aerocar pioneered safe and comfortable long-distance road travel by integrating aircraft design principles; • learn how Glenn Curtiss's obsession with safety led to many innovative engineering and safety features like the Aero Coupler, the first fifth-wheel hitch to be used in a production recreational vehicle and one of the safest trailer hitches of any period; and • uncover a treasure trove of previously unpublished images from the Curtiss family archives. Written by noted RV historian Andrew Woodmansey in partnership with the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum of Hammondsport, New York, this comprehensive volume covers both the highly successful commercial versions of the Aerocar and the lavish coach-built luxury variants. It's a must-have for enthusiasts of design, recreational vehicles, travel, and transportation history.
