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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]

During the late fall of 1913 Morris contracted with the Curtiss Company for a special small single seat, high speed monoplane Flying Boat with an OX engine for competition work. This novel craft, designed jointly by Morris and Glenn Curtiss, was the only one of its kind in the world. It embodied many new and unusual features including enclosed cockpit, which was a FIRST at that time. It was completed about January 1st, 1914 and given initial flight tests at Hammondsport by Morris at once. It proved very successful and was then taken to St. Petersburg, Florida for further tests. While in Florida Morris discovered he could easily carry passengers, his assistant Robert Simon being the first to ride with him. In March, 1914 the monoboat was shipped back to Hammondsport and Morris started flying for the Curtiss Company as soon as spring operations started there. 

In April Morris and Glenn Curtiss started flying a new tractor-type biplane with enclosed fuselage using an OX 90 H.P. engine. This plane, designated the Model J, was designed by Glenn Curtiss and B. D. Thomas. Because of the small flying field at Hammondsport the first tests were made as a waterplane with floats installed, but it was later also flown as a land plane. Morris continued testing this plane through April and May, and also flight tested some Flying Boats for foreign governments. In June Morris and Simon were sent to the Curtiss Camp at North Island, San Diego, California to conduct further test of the new Model J Tractor Biplane before Army Signal Corps officers. This craft was the first of a series of plane developments that ultimately became famous JN World War I training place. Morris continued these tests at San Diego through the late summer and fall of 1914 and really contributed a major part toward its successful termination. It was first called the Model J, then N, later combined into the JN.

In mid-October, 1914 the U. S. Army Signal Corps held an aeroplane competition at North Island and the Curtiss Company entered the new Model J Tractor Biplane which was flown by Morris during official trials. Entered also were: a Glenn L. Martin Tractor Biplane with 125 H.P. Hall-Scott engine; a special new Wright biplane using an imported Astro-Damlier engine; a Burgess-Dunne with French Salmson engine and a Schmitt Tractor Biplane with Gnome Rotary engine.