The world's first military aircraft. It was built in response to Signal Corps Specification 486, issued December 1907. On July 27, 1909, Orville Wright, with Lt. Frank P. Lahm as passenger, flew the aircraft for one hour, 12 minutes, 40 seconds and covered 40 miles, which met the Army's endurance requirement as stated in Specification 486. On July 30, 1909, Orville Wright, with Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois as passenger, covered a 10-mile test course from Fort Myer, Va., to Shooter's Hill in Alexandria, Va., and back to Fort Myer at an average speed of 42 mph, earning the Wrights their performance bonus (10 percent of the aircraft's base price for each mile an hour over 40). The aircraft was accepted by the Signal Corps on August 2, 1909, and redesignated Signal Corps Aeroplane Number 1. This aircraft was essentially the same as the 1908 Flyer, which had crashed and had been destroyed at Fort Myer on September 17, 1908, when a propeller shattered. Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge was killed and Orville Wright suffered a broken hip in that mishap. The 1909 Flyer was used to teach Lieutenant Lahm (the first US pilot to earn the distinction of "Military Aviator") and Lt. Frederic E. Humphreys to fly. Lieutenant Foulois taught himself to fly in this aircraft in 1910. Lt. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, who would lead the AAF in World War II and would lead the crusade for a separate Air Force, also flew Aeroplane Number 1 while it was based in College Park, Md. The aircraft was determined unfit to fly by 1911 and was retired. It is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C.
| Contractors: | Wilbur and Orville Wright |
| Locations Built: | Dayton, Ohio |
| Number Built: (USAF) | One (one) |
| First Flight: | June 3, 1909 |
| First Flight Model: | 1909 Military Flyer |
| First Flight Location: | Fort Myer, Va. (first Army demonstration flight) |
| First Flight Pilot: | Orville Wright |
| Models/Variants: | 1909 Military Flyer |
| Powerplant: | One Wright liquid-cooled, four-cylinder of 30.6 hp |
| Wingspan: | 36 ft 6 in. |
| Length: | 28 ft 11 in. |
| Height: | 8 ft 1 in. |
| Weight: | 740 lb gross |
| Armament: | None |
| Accommodation: | two, side by side. |
| Cost: | $25,000, plus $5,000 bonus for exceeding the speed performance |
| Max. Speed: | 47 mph |
| Range: | Endurance: Approx one hr. |
| Ceiling: | Approx 175 ft. |
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