56 Reunion by Livi

56th REUNION AT HAMMONDSPORT, NY

There was crowd anticiptation,…..silence, then a whirring sound followed by several short popping noises followed by the bellow of a ninety horse powered engine speaking through short exhaust stacks.  This was accompanied by the smooth, consistent roar of the whirling propeller. There seemed to be a crowd exhale of exhilaration as the OX5 engine performed like a present day, high technology machine.

The running of the Curtiss OX5 engine was one of the highlights of the 56th Annual Reunion held at the Curtiss Museum, Hammondsport, N.Y. The Curtiss OX5 engine was used in training airplanes during World War I. In the postwar period, its availability in quantity at low war surplus prices led to its adoption by many US manufacturers for their two- and three-place aircraft. The Laird Swallow was probably the first of these designs. There were more than twenty airplanes powered by the OX5 engine. Among them were the Curtiss Robin, Travel Air 2000, Waco 9 and 10, American Eagle, Alexander Eaglerock, Pitcairn PA-4, and others.

The crowd of approximately sixty people watched the OX5 running exhibition outside of the facility of the Curtis Museum located in the rural area between Bath and Hammondsport, N.Y. The museum is a landmark of aviation history and has a magnificent collection of historical aircraft. Its restoration shop, under the supervision of Wing President Norman Brush, overhauls and rebuilds airplanes and engines. (See pictures in the following white side bar post)

A second highlight was the bus trip to the Corning Museum of Glass to see all forms of beautifully crafted glass articles and the methods used to manufacture them including the art of glass blowing.

The final highlight of the reunion was the Awards Ceremony Presentations. This was held during the banquet on the last evening of the reunion. The presentation of the awards was conducted by Secretary Ivan Livi, in the absence of Awards Chairman Harold Walter, and assisted by President Dennis Yerkey. The awards presented were:

Hall of Fame Award – Thomas E. Hendershot

Legion of Merit Award – Alan “Doug” Moler

Wing President Award – Norman Brush

Clifford Ball Memorial Award – Kansas Wing

Thomas Barruso – Presidential Citation

Patricia Griswold – Presidential Citation

Wayne Gordon – Presidential Citation

Michael Lawernce – Presidential Citation

Sylvia Cook – Presidential Citation

Evelyn Latorre – Presidential Citation

The 56th Annual Reunion was a huge success with the largest attendance in recent years.  The thanks of the Officers and Governors go to the Glenn Curtiss Wing (and wives) for serving as the host and to all those who assisted and attended the reunion.

Now, we are looking forward to next year.

Ivan D. Livi,   National Secretary