First military pilots honored at anniversary of first flight

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C.

Keeping a heavier-than-air machine aloft on Dec. 17, 1903, was only the first challenge for the Wright brothers. Making a flier the military would buy took six more years.

Two steel -nerved men who were first to pilot that plane, "Aeroplane No. 1, Heavier-than-Air-Division, US Aerial Fleet," were honored Thursday during the 106th anniversary of first flight at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Trained by Wilbur Wright - and with just three hours of flying time apiece - Lts. Frederick E. Humphreys and Frank P. Lahm each flew three solo flights on Oct. 6, 1909, near College Park, Md.

Every pilot who has defended the nation since that day follows in their path, said Maj. Gen. Johnny A. Weida, assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements in the U.S. Air Force.

Except now they're flying aircraft faster than the speed of sound - or remotely, from an operations center thousands of miles away.

"Orville and Wilbur could never have imagined the capabilities in that one aircraft," said Weida, the keynote speaker. "But they started it all. With every airplane that flies, their spirit and motivation flies with them."

Many in the rapt audience of about 550 have been regular attendees of the annual ceremony.

Portraits of Humphreys and Lahm, who both became brigadier generals, were unveiled at the ceremony. The paintings will join those of other aviation pioneers inducted into the park's Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine.

Prior to Weida's remarks, Kill Devil Hills Mayor Ray Sturza gave an overview of the colorful names given to military aircraft over the decades since the Wrights' first 12-second, 6 mph flight, ranging from the Wildcat and the Flying Fortress to the Raptor and the Hornet.

Then there was the SR-71 Blackbird, he recalled, which could reach 2,200 mph, flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., in a cool 69 minutes.

"Right here at its humbling beginnings, you can see the progress we've made over the years," Sturza said.

The modest flyover that began at 10:35 a.m., the time of the first flight, featured a few military workhorses: a Coast Guard C-130 and Jayhawk helicopters, along with the C-54 Candy Bomber.

But the highlight of the mini-flyby was the Cessna 172 piloted by newly licensed Corey Kellam, a student in Elizabeth City State University's aviation program. It was the first time the school was invited to participate in the flyover.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com