Near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Greene County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Huffman Prairie Flying Field

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 26, 2007

1. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Marker

Inscription. Huffman Prairie Flying Field, a unit of the Dayton Heritage National Historic Park, is the site where Wilbur and Orville Wright flew and perfected the world's first practical airplane, the 1905 Wright Flyer III, after their first flights in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903. The Wright brothers mastered the principles of controlled, powered flight at Huffman Prairie during 1904 and 1905. From 1910 to 1915, they operated the Wright School of Aviation here, training many of the world's first pilots, including many military pilots.

Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 13-29.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 39° 48.435′ N, 84° 3.802′ W. Marker is near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in Greene County. Marker is at the intersection of Marl Road and Symmes Road, on the right when traveling east on Marl Road. This marker is extremely difficult to locate using GPS navigation. The marker is located approximately 250 feet outside the boundary

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fence of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Access to the Air Force base is restricted for security reasons, but GPS applications don't consider this restriction and will probably suggest a route through the Air Force base. Even if you have the proper credentials to access the Air Force base you won't be able to access the marker. The best way to locate this marker using GPS is to first navigate to the Twin Base Golf Club located along Communications Boulevard, then navigate to the marker coordinates from there.". Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dayton OH 45433, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Huffman Prairie Flying Field (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Airport (within shouting distance of this marker); Commuter Flyers (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of Flight (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trials in an Old Swamp (about 300 feet away); Flying Field to Air Force Base (about 300 feet away); Miss that Tree! (approx. 0.2 miles away); Follow the Flight Path (approx. ¼ mile away).

Regarding Huffman Prairie Flying Field. Orville Wright first came to this field, not to fly, but to sketch wildflowers. Orville's 9th-grade science teacher, William Werthner, regularly brought Central High School students to Torrence

Photographed By Craig Baker, April 18, 2021

2. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Marker

Huffman's property to study the unusual plants found here.
When the Wright brothers sought a place for their next flying trials, they remembered banker Huffman's pasture. A new electric trolley line would make it easy for them to reach this relatively isolated place from their workshop downtown. Mr. Huffman let them use the field free of charge — as long as they did not disturb his cows and horses.

More than a dozen interpretive markers offer additional information along a 30 minute walk around the flying field.

Also see . . . Huffman Prairie Flying Field. (Submitted on April 22, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

Huffman Prairie Flying Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 26, 2007

3. Huffman Prairie Flying Field

The site has reproductions of the hanger and storage shed, catapult launch system, and flagpoles marking the boundaries of the field.

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 26, 2007

4. Hanger

National Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

5. National Historic Landmark

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 26, 2007

6. Catapult

The Wrights used a catapult system similar to this reproduction.

Wright Flyer image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 19, 2006

7. Wright Flyer

A reproduction of the Flyer is on display in the nearby Air Force Museum. The original is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,582 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on October 3, 2022, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on January 6, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 23, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4. submitted on January 6, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on April 28, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6, 7. submitted on January 6, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.