The Model 54 was a conventional biplane design with a highly streamlined fuselage similar in outline to the Curtiss Eagle, but of considerably smaller proportions.

The combination of these devices gave the Tanager a stalling speed of just 31 mph (50 km/h) and allowed it to land in only 90 ft (27 m).

[1] Only the Tanager and the Handley Page Gugnunc passed the qualifying round of the competition, and ultimately the Tanager beat its rival by only one point to claim the $100,000 (£20,000)[2] prize, since the Gugnunc failed to achieve a minimum speed below 38 mph.

Even before the competition was decided, however, Handley Page was suing Curtiss for the unlicensed use of the leading-edge slot.

Following the competition, the Tanager was destroyed in a fire when sparks from its engine set the grass alight.