Historic seaplane lifts off
BY JEFFERY SMITH GATEHOUSE MEDIA

Pictured above, an unidentified photographer takes a photograph of the America, as the seaplane taxis along Keuka Lake during last weekend 's seaplane homecoming in Hammondsport. At right, the America soars over the lake.

HAMMONDSPORT — More horsepower was all that was needed Saturday to get a replica of Glenn Curtiss' famous seaplane in the air.

Hundreds watched in Depot Park along the Keuka Lake shores as the "America" skimmed across the water and took flight.

"They're in the air," said Dan Taylor, a pilot and member of the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum. "It's history in the making, a 1914 America is in the air."

The flight was a follow up to an event last year when the replica of the seaplane was publicly displayed for the first time. At that time, however, the plane was not equipped with large enough engines to get the seaplane airborne.

Since then, the seaplane - which has a 72-foot wingspan - was outfitted with two 125- horsepower engines which provided plenty of power to make Saturday's flight successful.

PHOTOS BY BONNIE ALBEE

"It was very exciting to watch," said Terri Sotherland, of Rochester. "It was just great."

The original "America" was built by Curtiss in 1914 to make the first-ever nonstop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, a feat for which a London newspaper had offered a large cash prize.

However, the flight was canceled when World War I broke out. Several versions of the America, though, were later used by the U.S. and British militaries during the war.

The replica of the original America was built from scratch by a crew in the museum's restoration shop over several years.

The America was piloted by Jim Poel and Lee Sackett.

Poel, a retired American Airlines pilot, summers on Keuka Lake, while Sackett resides in Penn Yan.

Lovada Poel, chairperson of Saturday's event, said it was a rousing success despite the poor weather.

Nearly 30 seaplane pilots gave rides on a first-come, firstserve basis to the public.