Existing comment:
Success Follows Failure
In 1908, Orville Wright brought his aircraft to Fort Myer, Virginia for Army demonstrations. He flew several test flight accompanied by an observer. On 17 September the machine crashed sparing Orville but killing 1st Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge. Selfridge became the first American Soldier to lose his life in an aircraft mishap. The Wright design was improved and trials resumed at Fort Myer in 1909. Orville completed a pair of flights that exceeded the War Department's endurance and speed requirements and the Army agreed to purchase the plane for $30,000. |