|  Orville Wright makes U.S. Army test flights and establishes record with passenger (1908) Silent film - reel, original footage
The Wright brothers brought an improved version of their 1908 plane to Fort Myer for official War Department tests. The U.S. Army was considering purchasing the Wrights' aircraft for a new military airplane. To get this contract, Orville had to prove that the airplane could successfully carry passengers.
1908, 2:20 minutes. Orville Wright makes Flight Exhibition for the United States Army (1908) Silent film - reel, original footage
Orville makes U.S. Army test flights at Fort Myer. The flight trials were scheduled for late summer 1908 at Fort Myer, Virginia. With the commitments in Europe, the brothers had to separate for the first time. With Wilbur off to France, Orville did the flying for the Army.
1908, 6:46 minutes. Wilbur Wright makes Flight Exhibition of the Wright Flyer in Le Mans, France (1908) Silent film - reel, original footage
On August 8, 1908, in front of a cynical crowd of French reporters and public dignitaries, Wilbur climbed into his flyer and put on an aerial display which stunned the spectators. He was able to circle his plane for more than two and a half hours. Arriving under a cloud of skepticism, the Wrights left France hailed as masters of aviation. 1908, 2:27 minutes. | 
Aviation Film Archive
