1909

March 28 Wilbur Wright sails with his Military Flyer for Rome, Italy, to put on an aerial display for the Italian military.

June 29 At Fort Myer, Virginia, Wilbur Wright resumes his Military Flyer practice flights, which were cancelled following the serious mishap of the previous September.

July 27 The Wright brothers’ aircraft, flying before a crowd of 10,000 onlookers including President William H. Taft, passes all U. S. Army Signal Corps requirements, and even exceeds the one – hour duration specified by the contract. Orville Wright is accompanied by Army Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm.

July 30 Orville Wright performs a cross­country speed test in his Military Flyer with Lieutenant Benjamin D. Foulois as a passenger. He averages 42 miles and

hour—two miles an hour faster than specified in the contract—and wins an additional $5,000 bonus.

AUGUST 2 General James Allen, chief sig­nal officer of the U. S. Army, having observed several flights, authorizes acquisition of the first military airplane— a Wright Model A biplane. The machine is dubbed Miss Columbia.

AUGUST 25 At College Park, Maryland, land leased from the University of Mary­land is to serve as its first Signal Corps airfield.

OCTOBER 23 At College Park, Maryland, Wilbur Wright gives Lieutenant Benjamin D. Foulois his first formal flight lessons.

OCTOBER 26 At College Park, Maryland, Lieutenant Frederick E. Humphreys becomes the first army officer to complete a solo flight, which lasts three minutes and three seconds. He then conducts several flights in concert with another early avia­tor, Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm.