Photo by Nancy Royden. A reproduction of the 1909 Military Flyer is on display in the College Park Aviation Museum. The plane is configured exactly how Wilbur Wright had the original Military Flyer when he arrived in College Park to train the first military officers to fly 100 years ago. It is one of many types or aircraft inside the facility on Corporal Frank Scott Drive.

Published on: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

By Nancy Royden

Did you know that 100 years ago this month Wilbur Wright taught the first military aviators how to fly at the College Park Airport?

This hidden gem, nestled in College Park off Paint Branch Parkway, has been quietly flying through time, all the while earning the title “The world’s oldest continuously operating airport.” And they want to pick up passengers along the way to educate them on the airport’s historical flight through time.

Today, the College Park Aviation Museum, which opened in 1998 and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a 27,000-square-foot facility on the airport grounds.

Even the address of its street location, Corporal Frank Scott Drive, is steeped in aviation history. Scott was the first enlisted aviator to be killed in an aviation crash, said Warren Kasper, program curator of the museum operated by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Photo by Nancy Royden. A 1912 Bleriot XI reproduction plane hangs inside the College Park Aviation Museum. It is one of many different styles of aircraft viewable inside the facility adjacent to the College Park Airport. The airport is listed on the National Register or Historic Places. Activities are being held at the museum to mark the airport's 100th anniversary.

First-time visitors to the museum might be surprised the airport and museum are so near to one another, and they may even think they are going the wrong way down the street because of development in the area. However, when newbies go straight down the street, signs easily lead them to either the airport or the museum.

“It’s like a hidden gem in College Park,” Kasper said.

Kasper said the airport was abuzz Aug. 29 when AirFair 100! was held at the museum and airport to celebrate a century of operation.

Oct. 8, 1909 marked the first flight in College Park. Wilbur Wright began teaching Lt. Frank Lahm and Lt. Frederic Humphreys how to fly. Another early student was Benjamin Foulois.

Kitty Hawk, N.C. is known for the invention of the airplane, and in College Park, the Wrights made it practical. The College Park site is also where Wilbur Wright flew as a pilot for the last time.

“Here at College Park, aviation was becoming accessible to the world,” Kasper said.

In 1909, the airport was also the site of the first woman passenger to fly in the United States.

Inside the museum, visitors can see a reproduction of the 1909 Military Flyer that was unveiled at the air fair last August.

The airplane is configured exactly how Wilbur Wright had the original Military Flyer when he came to College Park 100 years ago, according to The Discovery of Flight Foundation’s Web site, www.WrightExperience.com. The organization is a nonprofit group dedicated to studying, reconstructing and educating people of all ages about the work of the Wright Brothers.

“In experiencing this process of invention in our own shops, we are discovering and recording how the Wright Brothers worked, how they thought and how they completed the design of a practical airplane in only five years,” according to the Web site.

The good-sized work of the Wright Experience Team is located on one end of the museum’s largest room, with its maroon-colored seats, white wings and many other parts it took to be flight-worthy.

In promotional material, visitors to the museum may encounter, “props to spin, wind tunnels, a small plane to test your flight skills, simulators to experience, and fascinating displays on the airfield’s aviation history.”

One of the prettiest little items on display in the museum is the Aero Club of America medal award. The shiny gold piece was presented to Lt. Lahm when he won the 1906 J. Gordon Bennett Balloon Race. It is on display courtesy the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

Kasper said the museum has a pamphlet for experiencing a walking tour. While going on the walking tour, people can see 10 different sections. They are titled, “From Kitty Hawk to College Park,” “A Day in the Life at College Park, 1909,” “The Army Aviation School, 1911-1913,” “The Best of Both Worlds: Military and Civilian Aviation, 1910-1921,” “The Airmail Planes, 1918-1921,” “The Experimentation (Hands On) Room,” “Up, Up, and Away – a New Way to Fly (Berliner helicopter),” “The Golden Age of Aviation,” “Feats and Flights (1939 Boeing Stearman),” and “Gaining Altitude (a view from the upper area of the museum).”

A birds and aviation program will be offered Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. The program is available at no extra charge with museum admission. Birds inspired the Wright Brothers and now their invention is helping birds.

John French, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be discussing the whooping crane restoration program, which uses ultra light aircraft to guide the birds on their migrations. The program is in association with the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, according to information provided by the museum.

On Oct. 31, the museum will host its Flight Night, from 7 to 9 p.m. Participants are asked to wear a costume, and there will be arts and crafts, haunted hayrides and other activities. All tickets are $4.

Home School Day is Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $4 per participant and is designed for children who are at least 7 years old.

Aviation-themed activities and crafts will address learning in science, math, language and art. Preregistration is required and may be done by calling the museum.

Scout Wings Day is Nov. 21 from 12 to 4 p.m. and the cost is $4 per participant.

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of all ages are welcome to explore the museum and fun activities will be available. Preregistration is required.

On Dec. 5, Santa Claus is expected to fly into the airport. The event is scheduled from 12 to 4 p.m. A photographer will be on hand for participants and there will be arts and crafts.

From Dec. 19 until Dec. 26, the National Capital Trackers will display a moving model railroad inside the museum. People can see miniature trains, villages, tunnels and depots. The display is available at no charge with museum admission.

For those who enjoy mixing handiwork with history, a Wright Aeroplane rib-making workshop is planned Dec. 13 at 1 p.m.

There will be a demonstration and participants will make their own 1909 Wright wing rib. A $7 workshop fee per participant includes supplies and museum admission. Anyone who would like to participate may sign up at the museum or call for information.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on major holidays.

For more information, call the museum at 301-864-6029 or by TTY 301-864-4765. The Web site is www.CollegeParkAviationMuseum.com. Admission fees are $4 for adults, $3 for people 60 years and older, $2 for children and students and $3 for each person in a group of 10 or more.