Orville Wright's First Virginia Flight

Orville Wright made his first heavier-than-air flight in Virginia at Fort Myer for the U.S. Army on 3 Sept. 1908. He flew the plane slightly more than a minute, reaching a speed of 40 miles per hour. After a series of flight tests, the Army bought their plane for $25,000 on 31 July 1909 for its first military aircraft.