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

Huffman Prairie Flying Field

AIAA Historic Aerospace Site

August 21, 2008

1. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Marker

Inscription. On this 84-acre meadow in 1904 and 1905, the Wright Brothers successfully mastered the mechanics of controlled, powered, heavier-than-air flight. The brothers also built the world's first airport here, and in 1910 the Wright Company School of Aviation established a flying school on the site and trained many of the world's first pilots, including some of the first military pilots.

Erected 2003 by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. In addition, it is included in the AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 39° 48.42′ N, 84° 3.772′ W. Marker is near Dayton, Ohio, in Greene County. It is on Symmes Road just east of Marl Road, on the right when traveling east. Visit the Interpretive Center first to get driving directions. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dayton OH 45433, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Miami Valley.

It is also in the American

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Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Corner Boundary No. 6 (here, next to this marker); The First Airport (here, next to this marker); Trials in an Old Swamp (within shouting distance of this marker); Flying Field to Air Force Base (within shouting distance of this marker); A School for Flyers (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Huffman Prairie Flying Field (within shouting distance of this marker); Later Test Flights (within shouting distance of this marker); Those Daring Young Men (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

Also see . . . List of AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites. There were 58 plaques dedicated by AIAA between 2000 and 2013. They began dedicating new plaques again in 2025.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 20, 2021

2. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Marker

(Submitted on April 23, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

3. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Marker

Catapult and Barn Replicas image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 20, 2021

4. Catapult and Barn Replicas

National Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, June 27, 2025

5. National Historic Landmark

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 4, 2025

6. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 566 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on April 22, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on July 19, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on April 23, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on July 19, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on April 23, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on June 27, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. 6. submitted on October 8, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.