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Wright Flyer Test Flights at Fort Myer, VA
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Wright Flyer Test Flights at Fort Myer, VA
The Wright Flyer demonstrations at Fort Myer, Virginia on September 3, 1908. In January 1907 the Wright Brothers submitted a bid to the U.S. War Department to design a plane for $25, 000. This bid came as a response to a War Department request issued a month earlier for a " Heavier-than-air Flying Machine." While Wilbur Wright went off to Paris to promote the Wright Flyer, Orville Wright stayed in Dayton, Ohio to design a plane for the Army Signal Corps. By August Orvilles plane was ready and he headed to Fort Myer, Virginia, where the air trials were to take place. From August 20, 1908, to September 17, 1908, Orville performed test flights for the Army. On September 17th a split propeller caused the plane to crash, injuring Orville and killing his passenger, Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge. In spite of the crash the Army believed that the Wright plane would work. In July 1909, when Orville was able to fly again, he completed the test flights and surpassed all of the Armys requirements for a military plane: to carry a passenger for at least 125 miles at a speed of 40 miles per hour and stay aloft for at least one hour, easily transportable, controllable and steerable at all times and in all directions, and land without damage. On August 2, 1909, the Signal Corps accepted the Wright Flyer as the worlds first military aircraft, naming it Signal Corps Airplane No. 1
Space Image feature a selection of NASA's incredible imagery
Media ID 634578
© NASA
Fort Myer Orville Wright Selfridge Wilbur Wright Wright Flyer
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in aviation history - the Wright Flyer test flights at Fort Myer, Virginia. In 1908, Orville Wright embarked on a series of air trials for the U. S. Army Signal Corps to showcase the capabilities of their groundbreaking invention. The journey began when the Wright Brothers responded to a War Department request for a "Heavier-than-air Flying Machine" by submitting a bid to design a plane for $25,000. While Wilbur promoted their creation in Paris, Orville remained in Dayton, Ohio, meticulously designing an aircraft specifically tailored for military use. Arriving at Fort Myer in August 1908 with his newly completed plane, Orville conducted numerous test flights over the course of one month. These flights aimed to meet and exceed all requirements set by the Army: carrying a passenger for at least 125 miles at 40 miles per hour while remaining airborne for an hour. However, tragedy struck on September 17th when a split propeller caused the aircraft to crash. Orville survived but sadly Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge lost his life. Despite this setback, faith in the potential of the Wright Flyer remained unwavering among Army officials. After recovering from his injuries and resuming flight operations in July 1909, Orville successfully completed all required tests and surpassed expectations set by the Army. On August 2nd that year, Signal Corps Airplane No. 1 was officially accepted as not only America's first military aircraft but also as an extraordinary achievement that forever changed human transportation possibilities. This remarkable image immortalizes both triumphs and tragedies experienced during these historic test flights - marking it as an iconic symbol of innovation and progress within aviation history.
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