In 1909 the U.S. Army Signal Corps bought the world’s first military airplane from Wilbur and Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio.
The Wright Military Flyer passed trials at Fort Myer, Virginia, meeting the Army’s requirements for speed, endurance, and carrying a passenger.
Ohio Connection
The Wright brothers developed their aircraft in Dayton, and the city is home to Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Visit
The original 1909 Military Flyer is preserved at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
See It in Person
Ohio is a great place to see military history up close. The National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton is free and displays hundreds of aircraft, and local veterans memorials, county historical societies, and VFW and American Legion posts across the state often display vehicles and artifacts. Thank a veteran when you visit.
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