Wreck of the Wright Brothers Flyer

After the Wright Brothers made their famous first flight on December 17, 1903, the U.S. military took an interest in their flying machine. On December 23, 1907, the US Army issued Specification No. 486, outlining parameters for a heavier-than-air flying machine. The competition was open to all bidders, but the Wright Brothers' airplane was the only real contender.

The field trials of the plane were set for late summer 1908 at Fort Myer, Virginia. In their unsuccessful and tragic first attempt on September 17, 1908, passenger and Army observer Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge was killed.

This photograph shows bystanders removing the mortally wounded U.S. Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge from the wreck of the Wright Brothers Flyer after its crash. At right, several men attend the injuries of Orville Wright, who lies on the ground at their feet.

The trials were put on hold, and resumed in June 1909. A successful flight was achieved on July 27, 1909, with Orville Wright flying the plane and Army Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm observing. Wright and Lahm set the world's endurance record of one hour 12 minutes and 40 seconds.