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° 48.254′ N, 84° 3.66′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Greene County. It is on Pylon Road just north of Springfield Street. Access is from Highway 444

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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.

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

It is also in the American 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: They Had Done It! (a few steps from this marker); Corner Boundary No. 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); Follow the Flight Path (within shouting distance of this marker); Huffman Prairie State Natural Landmark (within shouting distance of this marker); 'Higher, Orville, Higher!' (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Miss that Tree! (about 500 feet away); A Tough Start after Kitty Hawk (about 600 feet away); Corner Boundary No. 7 (about 800 feet

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

2. A Starting Device Marker

away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

A Starting Device image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

3. A Starting Device

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 19, 2013

4. A Starting Device

Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 822 times since then and 23 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.