On July 27, 1909, Orville Wright and Lieutenant Frank Lahm of the United States Signal Corps shattered aviation records at Fort Myer, Virginia, by remaining airborne for 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 40 seconds. This historic flight was part of rigorous official trials to prove to a skeptical U.S. military that airplanes were viable tools for reconnaissance and warfare.
Flying the Wright Military Flyer, Orville satisfied the Army’s strict endurance requirements in front of an astonished crowd. The successful flight led directly to the U.S. military purchasing its very first aircraft, signaling the dawn of modern military aviation.
Image: Wright Military Flyer in 1909, Lt. Benjamin D. Faulis; Wilbur Wright, Lt. Frank P. Lahm and Orville Wright.
