Discover the AirFields History
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Founding of the College Park Airport
After four years of courting, negotiating, building, and testing, the U.S. Army agreed to purchase a Wright aeroplane in August 1909. An addition to selling the machine, the Wrights also had to train 2 U.S. Army officers to fly it.
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Field of Firsts
Travel through the years to get a glimpse of the firsts achieved by College Park.
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Early Civilian Aviation
Although College Park Airport originated as a military airfield, it was civilian aviators and inventors that ensured its continued operation.
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Army Signal Corps Aviation School
In 1911, Congress appropriated the first funds specifically for aeronautics when it allowed the Signal Corps to order new airplanes.
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Airmail
The Post Office Department initiated regular U.S. Air Mail Service from College Park Airfield to New York City on August 12, 1918. This 218-mile route was the first step in establishing a transcontinental route by air.
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Berliners
While the idea of vertical flight and helicopters has challenged inventors since at least the days of Leonardo da Vinci, some of the earliest success occurred at College Park in the 1920s.
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Radio Navigation Aids
Before the world could have reliable airlines, overnight shipping, and all weather fighters, researchers and inventors had to develop a system for pilots to navigate and land their aircraft without seeing the world around them.
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Engineering & Research Corporation (ERCO)
Henry Berliner founded Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) in 1930 to design and manufacture machines for building aircraft.
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Brinckerhoff Era
After Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927, aviation entered an era of widespread popularity. Airports and airfields across America hosted exciting air meets and air shows attracting thousands of spectators
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Recent History
Review recent historic achievements made at College Park.