After four years of courting, negotiating, building, and testing, the U.S. Army agreed to purchase a Wright airplane in August 1909. An addition to selling the machine, the Wrights also had to train 2 U.S. Army officers to fly it, and an appropriate airfield to do that, and as they were pioneering airplanes, and pilot training, they got to design what airfield should be like.
While awaiting improvements to the airfield, and with Orville off to Europe with sister Katharine, Wilbur made news in New York with another Wright plane. As part of the Hudson-Fulton celebration at the end of September, he made headlines in that populous city with awe-inspiring flights down the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty that a million New Yorkers witnessed. The tremendous crowds that lined the Jersey shores of the river, as well as those watching from the assembled battleships over which he flew, gave him a tremendous ovation for his flights.
Once the training began, Wright and the two lieutenants stayed at private homes across the railroad tracks in the town of College Park.
The first order of business, once everyone was settled, was to assemble the biplane, which Wilbur did for his students then adjusting the engine, unpacking crates, and putting together the forward and rear sections of the airplane.
That evening, Wilbur asked Lt. Lahm if he wanted his first lesson in cranking the engine. Lahm, was given this honor because he was in charge of the military detachment at the field. After about eight attempts, the engine sputtered to life to the delight of all those who witnessed it.
As they packed up for the day, Wilbur remarked to the newsmen (who were always standing by ready to record every comment and facial expression of the famous aviator), that he would have loved to take the airplane out for a flight. "This is an ideal day for flying", he said. "I would give $100 a day if I could have this kind of weather for flying."
As they packed up for the day, Wilbur remarked to the newsmen (who were always standing by ready to record every comment and facial expression of the famous aviator), that he would have loved to take the airplane out for a flight. "This is an ideal day for flying", he said. "I would give $100 a day if I could have this kind of weather for flying."
There was a great deal of excitement in the air the following day, with crowds of people arriving throughout the day in carriages and automobiles. Brig. Gen. James Allen, Chief of the Signal Corps and Major Squier arrived for the first time to inspect the airfield and were pleased with the improvements that had been made. They spent a great deal of time talking about the possibility of holding the 1910 International Air Meet at College Park, a topic that had dominated the news for the past few months.
However, it had recently come to the attention of the Baltimore & Washington Aero Clubs--who were making this recommendation--that College Park was a dry town. If this was to stand in the way of the movement they might have to get the state legislature to "wet it down" for the occasion!
Among the visitors, was the Chinese Prime Minister, Wu Ting Fang and his wife, who had arrived at the field in an automobile along with his bodyguard around midday, to witness two of the flights. The Associated Press in many reports of the day related that the Chinese diplomat was extremely curious, and amazed as the internal combustion engine was explained to him and inquiring particularly as to where the fire was. He asked Lt. Humphreys whether he could fly to New York, and ventured the opinion that the machine did not fly high enough, and that it made too much noise. At the conclusion of the flights he warmly congratulated Mr. Wright. "When you get it finally perfected, bring it to China," said Mr. Wu.
https://www.mncppc.org/1608/Founding-of-the-College-Park-Airport
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/college-park-airport-and-aviation-museum
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Wright+military+training+at+College+Park+in+1909.-a095103047
https://blog.ferrovial.com/en/2017/03/the-first-airports-that-changed-the-way-we-travel-what-were-they-like/
https://www.nps.gov/articles/college-park-airport.htm
Among the visitors, was the Chinese Prime Minister, Wu Ting Fang and his wife, who had arrived at the field in an automobile along with his bodyguard around midday, to witness two of the flights. The Associated Press in many reports of the day related that the Chinese diplomat was extremely curious, and amazed as the internal combustion engine was explained to him and inquiring particularly as to where the fire was. He asked Lt. Humphreys whether he could fly to New York, and ventured the opinion that the machine did not fly high enough, and that it made too much noise. At the conclusion of the flights he warmly congratulated Mr. Wright. "When you get it finally perfected, bring it to China," said Mr. Wu.
https://www.mncppc.org/1608/Founding-of-the-College-Park-Airport
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/college-park-airport-and-aviation-museum
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Wright+military+training+at+College+Park+in+1909.-a095103047
https://blog.ferrovial.com/en/2017/03/the-first-airports-that-changed-the-way-we-travel-what-were-they-like/
https://www.nps.gov/articles/college-park-airport.htm
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