New Market in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Site of Quick Airplane
Construction And Flight
(Reverse):
Quick’s mid-wing monoplane was made of wood harvested on the homeplace and cut in his sawmill and metal forged in his blacksmith shop. The design included an upright pilot position, fuselage-mounted engine, direct-drive propeller, three-wheel landing gear, and steerable tail wheel. On its only flight it sustained damage to its right wing and gear upon landing. Quick learned from this experience and designed an “Improved Flying Machine” which he patented in 1912. It included other unique features such as retractable landing gear, folding wings, ornithopter method of thrust propulsion, wing warp, and pitch control.
Erected 2008 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1908.
Location. 34° 55.044′ N, 86° 30.275′ W. Marker is in New Market, Alabama, in Madison County. Marker is on Wallace Lane (County Highway 100) west of Billy D. Harbin Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker located on the right after crossing the Flint River Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Market AL 35761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Madison County Poorhouse Farm Site and Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away); John Williams Walker (1783-1823) (approx. 4.2 miles away); New Market Presbyterian Church (approx. 4.3 miles away); Town of New Market (approx. 4.4 miles away); Mount Paran Campground and Cemetery (approx. 4½ miles away); Buckhorn Tavern / Buckhorn Tavern Skirmish (approx. 4½ miles away); Original Site of Enon Baptist Church (approx. 5.3 miles away); Early Settlers Cemetery (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Market.
Also see . . . Will Quick. (Submitted on June 28, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)
Additional commentary.
1. Text of William Lafayette Quick Plaque (Photo 5)
Born 1859, died 1927. Designed and built the first airplane to be flown in the state of Alabama at his home near New Market in 1908. Quick’s “flying machine,” a mid-wing monoplane with an upright pilot position, fuselage-mounted engine, direct drive propeller, 3-wheel landing gear, and steerable tail wheel, was also among the first monoplanes to be flown in the U.S. Quick also designed and patented an “improved flying machine” (submitted February 9, 1912, approved October 21, 1913) with other unique features, such as retractable landing gear, folding wings, ornithopter method of thrust propulsion, wing warp and pitch control. Produced family of early aviationists involved in barnstorming, crop-dusting and Air Mail service. Inducted into Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame 1982.
— Submitted November 28, 2010.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 3,339 times since then and 100 times this year. Last updated on July 20, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 28, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 5. submitted on November 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on June 28, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.