The Curtiss machine left its hangar on the minute, covered the intervening mile, and alighted on the water to offer aid.

The presence of boats made the good offices of the hydroaeroplane unnecessary on that occasion; but the incident opened up to the mind of Curtiss new possibilities.
In the first years of the World War Curtiss built airplanes and flying boats for the Allies.

The United States entered the arena and called for his services.

The Navy Department called for the big flying boat; and the NC type was evolved, which, equipped with four Liberty Motors, crossed the Atlantic after the close of the war.
The World War, of course, brought about the magical development of all kinds of air craft.

Necessity not only mothered invention but forced it to cover a normal half century of progress in four years.