First Night Flights - Montgomery, Alabama - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

Located on a small circular drive in front of Base Operations and Passenger Terminal at Maxwell Air Force Base, a marble marker marks the location of the nation's first civilian flying school. The text of the marker reads: "On this site in 1910 stood the hangar of the flying school of the first men to fly: the Wright Brothers" The school lasted from February until the end of May 1910. The locals were thrilled to see Orville Wright teaching the students while it lasted. The field that they used is now a part of Maxwell Air Force Base.

The students were Walter Brookins, James Davis, Spencer Crane, Archibald Hoxsey and Arthur Welsh. Boykins was the first to solo and began teaching the others after Orville left to return to Dayton in early May. The decision had been made to close the school at the end of May as its purpose had been to provide a place for training during the winter and early spring.

The following story of the first night flights comes from "The 'Wright Stuff': Pilot Training at America's First Civilian Flying School." Air Power History (Winter 2002):

"Amid rumors of the camp's closure, flights continued for the next few days. Training took place without Charles who had apparently left the city unannounced the previous week. In fact, a later report indicated that he had flown as Orville's passenger in Dayton on May 21. Much of the training at the field during the days that followed was limited by the high winds until finally the breezes became so strong on 25 May that Walter decided to completely ground the aircraft. That night, however, the weather conditions were perfect for flying, setting the stage for a bold, new adventure.

With no breezes stirring, the moon shining brightly and not a cloud in the sky Walter and Arch decided to fly the plane at night. The first flight took place at about 10:30 p.m. and others followed at regular intervals throughout the night and into the early morning hours. The initial flights reached altitudes of about 800 feet with Walter in full control of the aircraft. After some pleading, however, Arch actually guided the plane during several later flights. "A dark, weird, uncertain bulk," the Advertiser reported the next day "glinting now and then in the moonlight as its burnished bars caught the rays, and spouting sparks in mid-air, the aeroplane of the Wright brothers was driven in what is believed to have been the first flight by night ever attempted." The engine's throbbing could be heard distinctly "through the stillness that came after midnight," resounding for miles and heard "even on the outskirts of the city""

FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event Date of FIRST: 05/25/1910 More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]

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