The Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute was an early professional trade school operated by the

Curtiss-Wright The Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a manufacturer and services provider headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, with factories and operations in and outside the United States. Created in 1929 from the consolidation of Curtiss, Wright, and v ...

corporation for aircraft maintenance training. Director Major

C. C. Moseley Corliss Champion Moseley (July 23, 1894 – 1974) was a United States Army aviator and later civilian trainer. He won the inaugural Pulitzer Air Race in 1920. Following his service in World War I, where he was credited with one aerial victory, he ...

was one of only three school directors selected across America to set the standards for the pre-World War II civilian pilot training program. The institute was first set up in the terminal building of the

Grand Central Air Terminal Grand Central Airport is a former airport in Glendale, California. Also known as Grand Central Air Terminal (GCAT), the airport was an important facility for the growing Los Angeles suburb of Glendale in the 1920s and a key element in the devel ...

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, expanding to neighboring hangars and buildings around the airport. Both TWA and American Airlines flew transcontinental service from the airport. During World War II, over 7500 mechanics were trained at the facility. In 1950 the institute became part of the Grand Central Aircraft Company and Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute was renamed as the Cal-Aero Technical Institute. The

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

used the institute to train mechanics on contract until 1952. Enrollment dropped sharply after the cancellation of the contract and the facility closed in 1954.

Coursework

At its peak, CWTI had eight fields of study. *Aeronautical Engineering *Post Graduate Aeronautical Engineering *Master Aviation Mechanic *Specialized Engine *Specialized Airplane *Specialized Sheet Metal *Aeronautical Drafting *Aircraft Blueprint Reading

History

The Institute taught practical aircraft design with students producing actual aircraft that went into production. Martin Schempp taught courses in aircraft design at the CWTI. Together with students, they developed the 1932 Super Sailplane which served as the prototype for the Bowlus 1-S-2100 Senior Albatross "Falcon" glider. This aircraft is on display in the Smithsonian's

National Air and Space Museum The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, also called the Air and Space Museum, is a museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Established in 1946 as the National Air Museum, it opened its main building on the N ...

Richard C. du Pont Richard Chichester du Pont (January 2, 1911 – September 11, 1943) was an American businessman and an aviation and glider pioneer who was a member of the prominent Du Pont family. He was the founder of the major US legacy carrier US Airways, ...

was an early student who worked on the program and used the expertise gained to found the Bowlus-DuPont Sailplane Company in 1934. In 1935, students built the Al Novotney designed

Bunting I Bunting may refer to: Animals Birds * Bunting (bird) or Emberizidae, a family of Eurasian and African passerine birds * New World buntings or ''Passerina'', a genus of American passerine birds in the family Cardinalidae * Blue bunting, a species ...

racer which competed in the

National Air Races The National Air Races (also known as Pulitzer Trophy Races) are a series of pylon and cross-country races that have taken place in the United States since 1920. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew ...

. The Curtiss Coupe was designed by students and put in limited production by Curtiss-Wright in Robertson, Missouri. Students also helped develop and construct the Burrows R-6, Rider R-6, Crosby C6R3, and Crosby CR-4 racing aircraft.

References

{{coord missing, Los Angeles County, California Vocational education Technical schools Aviation schools in the United States Educational institutions established in 1929 Education in Glendale, California Buildings and structures in Glendale, California Educational institutions disestablished in 1959 1929 establishments in California 1959 disestablishments in California

Coursework

History

See also

References