Wright Brothers’ Historic Flying Demonstration at Fort Myers Through the Lens of Lewis Reed

This special post doesn’t have anything to do with Reed Brothers Dodge, but it does have a lot to do with it’s founder, Lewis Reed.

On this day in September 17,1908, the first military airplane in the world, built by the Wright brothers for the Army Signal Corps, made its first flight at Fort Myer, Virginia. Less than a thousand people witnessed the first flight at Fort Myer, because the general public was still doubtful that powered flight had been achieved. But Lewis Reed was there… and to commemorate that milestone, I have posted five original snippets of history that Lewis Reed captured through the lens of his camera that day.

Wright Brothers airplane in its hangar at Fort Myer, Virginia. Photo by Lewis Reed

Curtiss Model D with tricycle undercarriage. Photo by Lewis Reed

Curtiss Model D. Photo by Lewis Reed

Wright Model B with skids. Photo by Lewis Reed

Another early aircraft from 1909 was the Bleriot XI monoplane. Photo by Lewis Reed