Just up I95 from Fredericksburg is an exhibit that will
thrill the hearts of aviation buffs young and old.
Everyone knows that the Wright Brothers were “First in
Flight.” Well, yes and no.
Flight enthusiasts – both those with and without a pilot’s
license – will want to travel to the Stafford Regional Airport to learn about
the man who beat the Wright Brothers to the skies.
His name was Samuel Langley, and, on May 6, 1896, he
achieved “the world’s first successful flight of an unpiloted, engine driven,
heavier than-air craft of substantial size.”
So momentous was the day that even Alexander Graham Bell was
there for the event, which occurred in Stafford County. Bell wasn’t the only
person there that day – so were photographers who documented the flight.
Now, you can experience the event and learn more about it
thanks to the efforts of the Langley Flight Foundation, which has opened the
Langley Aerodrome Experience to teach others about Stafford’s prominent place
in aviation history.
The most interesting sight is the replica of the aerodrome
that hangs from the ceiling. The original is at the Smithsonian, but the
Langley Flight Foundation measured it to create an exact replica.
Stafford airport is just north of Fredericksburg off I95 at
mile marker 136, making it an easy morning or afternoon trip for the family.
School age kids will both enjoy the exhibits, as well as find some fun things
to do. There are interactive kiosks, as well as a video which reconstructs the
flight in real time. Your kids will find the experience amazing.
The Langley Flight Foundation exists thanks to the research
and dedication of Phil Hornung. It is supported with generous gifts from Silver
Companies, Discover Stafford, Bob and Amy Stanford, Tour Stafford Virginia, EDA
Stafford, and Stafford County.
