Most people know the Wright brothers flew the first airplane. But did you know they also flew for the U.S. military in 1908? This photo, taken on January 9, 1908, at Fort Myer, Virginia, shows one of their early flight demonstrations for the Army. It marked a big moment in American history.
Orville and Wilbur Wright, two American brothers and inventors, made the first powered flight on December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Just five years later, they proved that airplanes could serve more than just curiosity—they could serve the country.
What made the Wright brothers different? They didn’t just build an aircraft—they created flight controls. This allowed their plane to take off, turn, and land with stability. That level of control made true aviation possible. Others had tried to fly before, but only the Wrights succeeded in doing it again and again.
Orville once said, “If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance.” That belief drove them to succeed—and it still inspires inventors today.
This image, part of the Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files, is more than history. It’s proof of American courage, ideas, and the will to lead.
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