First Flight Society

05/27/2026

On May 22, 1906, a patent was issued to Wilbur and Orville Wright for "wing-warping," -- the ability to control wing edges during flight of an airplane.

Wilbur Wright was born in Henry County near Millville on April 16, 1867. He is pictured here.

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05/27/2026

American women were excluded from the necessary training for early spaceflights. Women finally joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 1978, 20 years after the agency’s creation. Astronaut Sally Ride, who was born on this day in 1951, became the first American woman in space in 1983.

Other women followed in her groundbreaking footsteps: In the 1990s, Eileen Collins became the country’s first woman to pilot and command a space shuttle. Mae Jemison became the first Black woman in space in 1992. Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman in space in 1993, and in 2013, she became the second woman and first Hispanic woman to lead the Johnson Space Center.

What does the future hold for women in the space program? https://bit.ly/4nPT9ZF

📸: NASA / Interim Archives / Getty Images

05/27/2026

Make sure to visit our friends if you will be in the area on June 6th!

come visit

05/27/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor all those who gave their life in the service of this country. While the Wright Brothers never served in the armed forces, they did work closely with members of the United States military, including several who later lost their lives in that service. One of those soldiers was Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge. In 1907, Thomas Selfridge was assigned to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, the precursor to the Air Force.

With interest in both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air flying machines, Selfridge was trained to fly a dirigible and was the first U.S. military officer to pilot an aircraft, the White Wing. Selfridge would take the opportunity to fly with Orville Wright during demonstrations at Fort Myer, outside of Washington, D.C. On his first flight with Orville, a propeller snapped, breaking a bracing wire and causing the plane to crash.

While Orville survived with major injuries, Lt Selfridge did not, becoming the first military death during powered flight. Lt. Selfridge pushed the boundaries for the United States military in the air, taking them to a place they had never been before. Today, we look towards him and all those who served in the United States military and lost their lives in the course of their service.

Alt text: Black and white photo of a man in a short-sleeved dress shirt and tie.

05/27/2026

Happy Birthday to honoree

On her 75th birthday, we remember Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space!

At the age of 32, this physicist and astronaut launched aboard Challenger in June 1983 for her first of two space missions. Her example inspired generations to reach for the stars. ✨

05/22/2026

https://generalaviationnews.com/2026/05/20/wright-brothers-toy-helicopter-inspiration/

Discover how a simple aviation toy ignited a lifelong passion for flight, setting the Wright brothers on the path to changing history forever.

05/18/2026

The "Spirit of St. Louis" airplane was installed in the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall on this day in 1928.

Many Air and Space artifacts were displayed in Arts and Industries and other Smithsonian buildings in DC before we had a building of our own.

05/18/2026

In May of 1910 Milton Wright grabbed a seat with his son, Orville, to soar through the skies. Orville Wright flew the Wright Model B Flyer with his 81-year-old father, Bishop Milton Wright, as a passenger. Later Milton documented the experience, "Milton Wright's flight, May 25th, 1910, I arose 350 feet. About 280 feet in the within picture." The flight lasted nearly seven minutes. This was a truly special occasion as it was also the only day Wilbur and Orville flew together.

Credit: Wright State University

Image description: Black and white photo of early model biplane flying over a field.