F.Y.I.

[FastEd]

On this day in History, 1908:

The U.S. Army ordered their very first airplane from The Wright Brothers, Dayton, Ohio.
Who would ever dream what that would lead to...

 

[graygun]

It was delivered to the signal corps,repository for strange new stuff.

 

[Bob Wright]

The propellers were driven by sprockets and roller chain. Heritage of the Wright brothers as bicycle men.


I'm often asked it I were one of the Wright brothers. I can always truthfully answer "yes."


Bob Wright

 

[Number9]

We visited Kitty Hawk a few years ago.. great place!

 

[FastEd]

Before the first flight, Wilbur & Orville actually flipped a coin to see who made the first flight.
They would never say who won the toss.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I too have visited Kitty Hawk and I always liked the Smithsonian Aerospace museum in Washington , DC; Sadly, I never got to visit their other facility. I have been to the Air Force one on Robbins AFB, GA (?? I think) and OF COURSE the Museum and facility at Cape Canaveral (Kennedy Space Center).

 

[Wyandot Jim]

The rest of the story. Not a good day for Lt. Selfridge. Must be why they named an Airfield after him

When Orville Wright came to Fort Myer to demonstrate the Wright Flyer for the US Army Signal Corps division, Selfridge arranged to be a passenger while Orville piloted the craft. On September 17, 1908, the Wright Flyer circled Fort Myer 4½ times at 150 feet. Halfway through the fifth circuit, at 5:14 in the afternoon, the right propeller broke, losing thrust. This set up a vibration, causing the split propeller to hit a guy wire bracing the rear vertical rudder. The wire tore out of its fastening and shattered the propeller; the rudder swiveled to the horizontal and sent the Flyer into a nose-dive. Orville shut off the engine and managed to glide to about 75 feet, but the Flyer hit the ground nose first.

Read more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Selfridge

 

[toysoldier]

What's more remarkable, Orville lived to fly a Lockeed Constellation.

http://jack-frye.blogspot.com/2013/06/oroville-wright-flys-connie.html

 

[RugerHound]

Just amazing stuff! Thanks guys!

 

[WendyZXZ]

Excellent bit of history!