Editing AEA June Bug (section)

==Operational history==

===Cup attempt===
[[File:Glenn Curtiss in His Bi-Plane, July 4, 1908.jpg|thumb|right|Curtiss in the ''June Bug'', July 4, 1908.]]
The Aero Club contacted the [[Wright brothers]], offering them the chance to make an attempt first. Orville wrote to decline the opportunity on June 30, as the Wrights were busy completing their deal with the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]]. Orville's message was received by July 1, and G.H. Curtiss took to the air as requested on July 4 ([[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]]).

The flight was made a public event, and spectators were allowed to watch. The event was overseen by a delegation of 22 members of the [[Aero Club of America|Aero Club]], headed by [[Alan Ramsay Hawley|Alan R. Hawley]]. The [[Kalem Company]]'s film crew covered the event, making the ''June Bug'' the first airplane in the United States to perform in a movie. The nearby [[Pleasant Valley Wine Company]] opened its doors and offered free samples to the spectators at the event. [[Charles M. Manly]], who had unsuccessfully tested the [[Langley Aerodrome]] in 1903, measured out the 1&nbsp;km and {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}} distance with volunteer help. The ''June Bug'' took one false start, going {{convert|40|ft|m}} high, but not far enough. On the second try, the airplane successfully flew 5,085&nbsp;ft (1550 m) in 1 minute 42 seconds, winning the trophy and a US$25,000 cash prize.

Amidst the publicity following the flight, the Wrights sent a warning to Curtiss that they had not given permission for the use of "their" aircraft control system to be used "for exhibitions or in a commercial way". In fact, none of the A.E.A.'s aircraft used a wing-warping system like the Wrights' for control, relying instead on triangular ailerons designed by [[Alexander Graham Bell]], which he successfully patented in December 1911. However, in 1913 a court ruled that this technique was an infringement of the Wright's 1906 patent.

Three years previous to the ''June Bug''{{'}}s flight, the Wrights had made flights of up to 24 miles (38&nbsp;km) without official witnesses. However, the Wrights would have been required to install wheels and dispense with a catapult launch to compete for the 1908 prize.