![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fantasyofflight.com\/collection\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Curtiss-E-Model-Flying-Boat1.jpg\" "\\"Curtiss")
<\/a>1913 reproduction Curtiss "E" Model Flying Boat at Curtiss Museum<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>1919 Curtiss "Seagull" at Curtiss Museum<\/p><\/div>\n
After a day at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidental Library taking pictures of Roberts engine drawings we visited with Steve Littin of Vintage and Auto Rebuilds just outside of Cleveland, OH. \u00a0He builds early Rolls Royce Silver Ghost car engines from scratch and is willing to help our desire to build a new Roberts engine for the Benoist Flying Boat. \u00a0Steve recently visited Fantasy of Flight and, after discussing the project, took my 4-cylinder Roberts back to Ohio with him as well as all the drawings and manuals we took pictures of to begin the process of figuring out how we’re going to build a new one.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Kermit and Steve Littin with 4-cylinder Roberts engine<\/p><\/div>\n
I was fortunate to recently acquire a second 4-cylinder Roberts from an auction in England, which just might end up in our 1910 Curtiss Pusher reproduction. \u00a0I figured since we’re going to be Roberts engine experts at some point, why not? \u00a0I also made an agreement with Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to borrow their 6-cylinder Roberts, which is currently on display in the St. Pete Museum. \u00a0It will be sent to Steve for disassembly for reverse engineering purposes and we all look forward to learning about, building, and running this fascinating engine! \u00a0I can only imagine that it’s got to sound like a Harley on steroids!<\/p>\n
On a side note, I got a chance to see the original Curtiss Seaplane Schneider Cup winner at the Smithsonian. \u00a0The land plane version of this with wheels (R3C-1) was the basis for the\u00a0“Curtiss” <\/em>character in my illustrated children’s book All of Life is a School.<\/em><\/p>\n