By Randy Malmstrom
Curtiss Model 51 Fledgling. My photos at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
Editor’s notes: The Curtiss Model 51 Fledgling was a civil version of the US Navy’s Curtiss N2C trainer, which was developed by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, which had been developed with the company designation Model 48. While the N2C trainer was powered by two versions of the Wright Whirlwind radial engine (specifically the Wright J-5 (R-790) and the J-6-7 (R-760)), the Model 51 was powered by the Curtiss Challenger six-cylinder, twin-row radial engine. The Curtiss Model 51 Fledgling was primarily used by the Curtiss Flying School as flight trainers and by the Curtiss Flying Service as air taxis for paying passengers.
According to a blog post (A Fledgling gets its wings | Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum) written by former curator Stewart Bailey (now curator of the Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado), the Curtiss Fledgling now displayed at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum was built as the 51st of 109 Curtiss Model 51 Fledglings (hence its construction number, B-51), and was added to the U.S. civil registry as NC868N, and spent its early years flying around St. Louis, Missouri. After a brief stint in Alaska, the aircraft returned to the Lower 48, and by the 1960s, the old biplane was acquired by pilot Eugene Burrill of Medford, Oregon, who restored the aircraft to airworthy condition. After Gene Burrill’s passing in 2008, his widow, Gladys, donated his Curtiss Fledgling to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, while Eugene’s son, Mike, trucked the aircraft to the museum in McMinnville, where it was reassembled and remains on display today.
About the author 
Randy Malmstrom grew up in a family steeped in aviation culture. His father, Bob, was still a cadet in training with the USAAF at the end of WWII, but did serve in Germany during the U.S. occupation in the immediate post-war period, where he had the opportunity to fly in a wide variety of types that flew in WWII. After returning to the States, Bob became a multi-engine aircraft sales manager and, as such, flew a wide variety of aircraft; Randy frequently accompanied him on these flights. Furthermore, Randy’s cousin, Einar Axel Malmstrom, flew P-47 Thunderbolts with the 356th FG from RAF Martlesham Heath. He was commanding this unit at the time he was shot down over France on April 24th, 1944, and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. Following his repatriation at war’s end, Einar continued his military service, attaining the rank of Colonel. He was serving as Deputy Wing Commander of the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing at Great Falls AFB, MT, at the time of his death in a T-33 training accident on August 21, 1954. The base was renamed in his honor in October 1955 and continues to serve in the present USAF as home to the 341st Missile Wing. Randy’s innate interest in history in general, and aviation history in particular, plus his educational background and passion for WWII warbirds, led him down his current path of capturing detailed aircraft walk-around photos and in-depth airframe histories, recording a precise description of a particular aircraft in all aspects.
