Existing comment:
FORT SAM HOUSTON TEXAS:
Fortunately for the future of the U.S. military aviation, one other officer, Lt. Foulois, had ridden in the airplane several times. As a result of this "previous experience," he was ordered to take the airplane to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and teach himself to fly it, even though he had never made a solo flight or even a takeoff or landing.
On March 2, 1910, he made his first flight and by September had flown the plane on 61 practice hops. During this period, the Wright brothers sent flying instructions through the mail to Lt. Foulois whenever he needed advice on some "unknown" aspect of becoming a pilot. By early 1911, the airplane was in poor condition, having been wrecked and rebuilt by Lt. Foulois on several occasions, and it was retired from further service. |