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1909 Wright Military Flyer, 1909. Creator: Wright Brothers
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1909 Wright Military Flyer, 1909. Creator: Wright Brothers
Canard biplane with one 30-to-40-horsepower Wright vertical four-cylinder engine driving two pusher propellers via sprocket-and-chain transmission system. No wheels; skids for landing gear. Natural fabric finish; no sealant or paint of any kind. The 1909 Wright Military Flyer is the worlds first military airplane. In 1908, the U.S. Army Signal Corps sought competitive bids for a two-seat observation aircraft. Winning designs had to meet a number specified performance standards. Flight trials with the Wrights entry began at Fort Myer, Virginia, on September 3, 1908. After several days of successful flights, tragedy occurred on September 17, when Orville Wright crashed with Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge, the Armys observer, as his passenger. Orville survived with severe injuries, but Selfridge was killed, becoming the first fatality in a powered airplane. On June 3, 1909, the Wrights returned to Fort Myer with a new airplane to complete the trials begun in 1908. Satisfying all requirements, the Army purchased the airplane for $30, 000, and conducted flight training with it at nearby College Park, Maryland, and at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas, in 1910
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The 1909 Wright Military Flyer, captured in this photo print, stands as a testament to the pioneering spirit of the Wright Brothers. This remarkable canard biplane, equipped with a powerful 30-to-40-horsepower Wright vertical four-cylinder engine, marked the world's first military airplane. Its unique design featured two pusher propellers driven by a sprocket-and-chain transmission system and skids instead of wheels for landing gear. In 1908, the U. S. Army Signal Corps initiated a competition for a two-seat observation aircraft that met specific performance standards. The Wrights' entry was put through rigorous flight trials at Fort Myer, Virginia starting on September 3rd of that year. Tragedy struck during these trials when Orville Wright crashed with Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge onboard on September 17th – marking the first fatality in powered aviation history. Undeterred by this setback, the determined brothers returned to Fort Myer on June 3rd, 1909 with an improved version of their flyer to complete the interrupted trials from the previous year. Successfully meeting all requirements set forth by the Army, they sold this groundbreaking aircraft to them for $30,000. Following its purchase, extensive flight training took place using this very plane at College Park in Maryland and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio throughout 1910. This iconic photograph captures not just an extraordinary machine but also commemorates those who risked their lives pushing boundaries and paving the way for future advancements in military aviation technology.
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