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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

November 9, 1904

The First Airplane Flight to Last More Than Five Minutes

On this day in 1904, the Wright Brothers had their most successful days so far when they managed to get the Flyer II to stay in the air for over five minutes. The airplane circled Huffman Prairie almost four times which was about three miles. Less than a year later, the Wright Brothers were making flights lasting over 38 minutes which covered over 24 miles.

Later in 1904 the Wright's wrote the U.S. government offering their services to the U.S. War Department. The Secretary of War, William H. Taft who had been "...skeptical as to the practicability and value of any so called 'flying machine'..." was beginning to show an interest but the Board of Ordinance and Fortification was not willing to offer any financial assistance.

Barely a hundred years later on March 7, 2005, Steve Fosset would complete the first solo nonstop flight around the world without refueling.