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1910-1917 Civilian Flying:
The attention getting flights of 1909, immediately attracted inventors and all those interested in conquering this seemingly limitless new field of technology... aviation, to the airfield.
The Rex Smith Aeroplane Company was the first to set up operations, with aeroplanes of their own design, attention-getting stunts and flights, as well as flight instruction. By 1912, both the National Aviation Company and the Washington Aeroplane Company had set up hangers and operations on the grounds. The National Aviation Company was the sole dealer of Curtiss, Bleriot and Wright Aeroplanes in the Washington area. Both companies offered sales and instruction to a public hungry for this new mode of transportation.
The Washington Aeroplane Company was interested in designing and building aeroplanes of their own design. Their Columbia Monoplane and Biplane were reputed to be the first aeroplanes designed and built solely in the Washington area, by 1912.
Other inventors and individuals came to the field during this time, gaining inspiration from these three popular aeroplane companies and all eager "to earn fame and fortune as aviators." |