Dayton in Greene County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

A Starting Device

Huffman Prairie Flying Field

— Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park —

A Starting Device Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

1. A Starting Device Marker

Inscription. To take off by engine power alone in Dayton’s light winds, the Wright brothers had to lay out as much as 240 feet of wooden rails. If the breeze shifted, the track had to be moved and pegged down again to face the new wind direction.

But after they built a catapult in September 1904, the Wrights could launch their flyer with only 60 feet of rail.

It is evident that we will have to build a starting device that will render us independent of wind and are now designing one...
Wilbur Wright, August 8, 1904

Catapult-assisted Takeoffs
A team of horses pulled a 1600-pound counterweight to the top of the wooden derrick. When the weight fell sixteen feet, it added enough speed to get a flying machine airborne—regardless of wind direction and strength.

The catapult in front of you is a replica.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1904.

Location. 39° 48.25′ N, 84° 3.65′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Greene County. Marker is on Pylon Road north of Springfield Street. Access is from Highway 444 at Communications Blvd. Visit the Interpretive Center first for driving directions. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dayton OH 45433, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. They Had Done It! (here, next to this marker); Follow the Flight Path (within shouting distance of this marker); Miss that Tree! (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trials in an Old Swamp (approx. 0.2 miles away); Flying Field to Air Force Base (approx. 0.2 miles away); The First Airport (approx. 0.2 miles away); Huffman Prairie Flying Field (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Huffman Prairie Flying Field (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

Photographed By Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

2. A Starting Device Marker

Photographed By Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

3. A Starting Device Marker

Photographed By Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

4. A Starting Device Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 544 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 13, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.