When it comes to thinking about firsts and flying everyone immediately thinks of the Wright Brothers and Kitty Hawk. As well they should. However what many don't realize is that the Wright Brothers made what might be considered a more important flight in Arlington VA at the Fort Myer Army Post.
The US Army Signal Corps wanted an aircraft that could hold two people and fly for at least one hour. The first test came in September 1908 when Orville Wright took up a two seater plane and circled the parade grounds at Fort Meyer 57 times. He then took a passenger up and flew for one hour and 12 minutes.
Later that week on another test flight Orville Wright and his passenger First Lt. Thomas Selfridge made another flight. That flight crashed killing Lt Selfridge, making him the first military flight casualty in the US.
The Signal Corps had one more requirement. The plane needed to fly at least 40 MPH. In July 1909 the Wright brothers came back to Fort Myer and flew a course between Fort Meyer and Alexandria and hit an airspeed of 42.6 MPH. The US Government then ordered their first military and commercial aircraft. A production and test facility were established across the river in College Park Maryland.
Today as you pass Fort Myer you see the spires of the Air Force Memorial honoring not only the men and women of the Air Force who have given their lives but also for the early pioneers of flight. Lt. Selfridge is buried in Arlington Cemetery close to the spot where his plane crashed. Fort Myer serves as home to the US Army School of Music and The Old Guard the army's ceremonial unit.
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