J.A.D. McCurdy in Florida
In the winter of 1910-1911, Canadian pilot is star of powered flight in Florida
In the early years of powered flight, John Alexander Douglas McCurdy emerged as one of the most prominent aviators associated with Glenn Curtiss and his circle of experimenters. Trained as a mechanical engineer at the University of Toronto, McCurdy was taught how to fly by Curtiss and was a founding member of the Aerial Experiment Association along with Curtiss and Alexander Graham Bell. He quickly distinguished himself as both a pilot and a technically minded contributor to aviation’s development. In 1909, he piloted the Silver Dart in Nova Scotia, achieving the first powered flight in Canada.
Sends first successful wireless transmission from aircraft to ground station
By 1910, McCurdy had become one of the leading exhibition pilots connected with Curtiss. That same year, he participated in experiments that demonstrated aviation’s expanding capabilities. On August 28, 1910, he carried out the first successful wireless transmission from an aircraft in flight to a ground station. Flying approximately 500 feet above Sheepshead Bay, New York, McCurdy transmitted a message received by operator Harry M. Horton, working under the supervision of the U.S. Signal Corps. The message—brief but clear—marked an early step toward practical air-to-ground communication.
Heads south in the winter
Late in 1910, McCurdy joined a group of Curtiss aviators touring the southern United States, including appearances in cities such as Mobile, Atlanta, and New Orleans. By December, the group had reached Jacksonville, where McCurdy was billed as one of the principal attractions at an aviation meet scheduled for Christmas Day at Moncrief Park. Promoted as an opportunity for the public to witness the latest advances in flight, the event reflected the growing national interest in aviation and the role of exhibition flying in demonstrating its possibilities.
The Jacksonville meet, however, was cut short by mechanical failures. McCurdy completed multiple flights, but a burst engine cylinder forced him to land after his third round, while another aviator, James Ward, was grounded by a broken propeller. The exhibition was abandoned early, disappointing spectators despite otherwise favorable weather conditions.
Key West-Havana flight makes national headlines
Within weeks, McCurdy undertook one of the most ambitious flights of the period. On January 30, 1911, he departed Key West in a Curtiss biplane equipped with pontoons, attempting to reach Havana, Cuba. Supported by a line of U.S. Navy destroyers for navigation, he flew approximately 90 miles over open water before engine failure forced him to land at sea, where he was quickly rescued by the USS Terry. Though he did not complete the crossing, the flight set a record for overwater operations and was widely regarded as a significant technical achievement.
Makes series of appearances in Florida
In February 1911, McCurdy appeared at a major aviation meet in Tampa, held in conjunction with the city’s Census Celebration. Alongside other leading aviators, including Lincoln Beachey, he performed a series of exhibition flights before large crowds. These included aerial maneuvers such as circling, gliding, and coordinated demonstrations that illustrated increasing control over aircraft in flight. The meet drew substantial public attention, though it also became notable for the arrest of several participants, including McCurdy, for violating local Sunday laws governing public exhibitions.
From Tampa, McCurdy continued a series of appearances across Florida. At Palm Beach, he conducted multiple successful flights at Bethesda Park, reaching altitudes of up to approximately 2,000 feet and demonstrating improved performance with a newer Curtiss biplane. Attempts were also made to incorporate wireless equipment into these flights, extending his earlier communication experiments.
In March 1911, McCurdy traveled to Daytona Beach, where he gave a series of well-attended exhibitions over the famous hard-packed sands. His flights included extended runs over the shoreline and inland areas, as well as planned demonstrations such as races against automobiles. Contemporary accounts emphasized both his skill as a pilot and his reputation, noting that only the Wright brothers and Curtiss himself were considered to have comparable experience in the air.
Throughout this period, McCurdy’s work in Florida reflected the broader transition of aviation from experimental novelty to public demonstration and practical application. His exhibitions combined technical display with promotion, helping to familiarize large audiences with powered flight while also testing the limits of contemporary aircraft.
Breaks with Curtiss
In June 1911, it was reported that McCurdy would sever his relationship with the Curtiss Exhibition Company. After several years as one of its leading aviators, he chose to pursue independent work as a manufacturer, instructor, and exhibitor. This decision marked the end of his direct association with Curtiss’s organization and the beginning of a more independent phase of his career.
McCurdy remained active in aviation through manufacturing, military training, and public service, particularly in Canada. His contributions extended well beyond his exhibition career, and he is widely recognized as one of the foundational figures in Canadian aviation (see “Additional reading,” below).
The Florida exhibitions of 1910–1911 represent a concentrated period in which McCurdy operated at the forefront of early flight. Moving from Jacksonville to Key West, Tampa, Palm Beach, and Daytona, his activities illustrate both the opportunities and the limitations of aviation in its formative years—marked by technical innovation, public fascination, and the gradual establishment of flight as a practical endeavor.
At left: Tampa Tribune, June 5, 1911.
Additional reading: Canadian Hall of Fame