The Wright Brothers flew the first successful airplane flights at Kitty Hawk late in 1903 and then left for home in Dayton, Ohio. After gaining patents, they brought the airplane out of hiding for exhibition – and began manufacturing airplanes to sell to wealthy sportsmen who would buy a Wright Flyer as a piece of extreme sports equipment. The Wrights planned to train young men to fly the airplane so that they, in turn, could train the buyers. There was one hitch to this plan: It was way too snowy in Dayton in 1910 for an airplane to fly.
So, Wilbur went searching for an ideal Southern location to train pilots, and he landed in Montgomery. The city, eager to distance itself from its association with the Civil War, leaped on this unusual chance to become associated with the modern miracle of flight. Montgomery’s and the Wright Brothers’ flying school was significant for the nation and world, encompassing some key firsts and several important outcomes.
The Wright Brothers’ Alabama story is told in an interactive, entertaining PowerPoint show, complete with photos and cartoons from the era.
