the historic aircraft for tests. Curtiss flew the modified Aerodrome from Keuka Lake, New York, hopping a few feet off the surface of the water several times for no longer than five seconds at a time. Photos of a bit of daylight beneath the pontoons taken at an additional test conducted closer to shore a few days later were published by the media. Preservation Two of Langley's scale model Aerodromes survive to this day. Aerodrome No. 5, the first Langley heavier-than-air craft to fly, is on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Aerodrome No. 6 is located at Wesley W. Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh, and was restored in part by the engineering students. Fabric on the wings and tail is the only new material, although the tail and several wing ribs were rebuilt using vintage wood from the same time period, provided by the Smithsonian. Langley had been an astronomy professor at the university before he ascended to the Smithsonian's top job. The man-carrying Aerodrome survived after being rebuilt and tested by Curtiss and was converted back to Langley's original 1903 configuration by Smithsonian staff. It occupied a place of honor in the Smithsonian museum until 1948 when the Institution welcomed home the original 1903 Wright Flyer from the U.K. Afterward, the Aerodrome resided out of view of the public for many years at the Paul Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland. Today it is displayed at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia See also History of aviation Manly-Balzer engine Notes References Tobin, James. To Conquer The Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight. Free Press division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 2003 External links Contemporary reporting in Flight magazine on the Aerodrome (Wayback Machine) Biplanes Tandem-wing aircraft 1900s United States experimental aircraft Individual aircraft in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution Aviation accidents and incidents in 1903 Aviation history of the United States Single-engined tractor aircraft