Wright Flying School facts for kids

The Wright Flying School was a special place where people learned to fly airplanes. It was run by the Wright Company from 1910 to 1916. During this time, 119 students learned how to fly the amazing airplanes built by the Wright brothers.

Learning to Fly: The School's Story

A building at the Wright Flying School in Augusta, Georgia, around 1911.

Orville Wright, one of the famous brothers who invented the airplane, started teaching students on March 19, 1910. The first lessons took place in Montgomery, Alabama. This area later became known as Maxwell Air Force Base.

When the weather became warmer in May, the school moved. It relocated to Huffman Prairie Flying Field near Dayton, Ohio. This was a very important place. The Wright brothers had developed their first practical airplanes here in 1904 and 1905. The Wright Company also used this field to test its new airplanes.

The school also had another location in Augusta, Georgia. This part of the school was managed by Frank Coffyn. Some of the very first students who graduated from the school became members of the Wright Exhibition Team. This team showed off the amazing new airplanes to people.

Where the School Was Located

A National Park Service sign at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field school location.

The Wright Flying School operated in a few different places:

• Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama
• Huffman Prairie Flying Field near Dayton, Ohio
• Augusta, Georgia

Famous Students Who Learned to Fly

Many people learned to fly at the Wright Flying School. Here are some of the notable students:

• 1st Lt. Henry H. Arnold (1886–1950)
• 1st Lt. Thomas DeWitt Milling (1887–1960)
• Calbraith Perry Rodgers (1879–1912) began his lessons on June 5, 1911. After just one week, his teacher let him take off, fly, and land the plane. But when he asked to fly alone, his teacher said no. So, Rodgers decided to buy the training airplane! It was a Wright Flyer Model B, and it was the very first one owned by a private person.
• Oscar Brindley (1885–1918)
• Walter Richard Brookins (1889–1953)
• Howard W. Gill (1882–1912)
• Oliver LeBoutillier (1894-1983)
• Philip Orin Parmelee (1887–1912)
• Leda Richberg-Hornsby (1886–1939)
• Marjorie Stinson (1895–1975)
• Edward Stinson (1893–1932)
• J. Clifford Turpin (1886–1966)
• Arthur L. "Al" Welsh (1881–1912) learned to fly at the school. Then, in the summer of 1910, he became an instructor himself!
• George William Beatty (1887–1955) was taught by Al Welsh. He had his first lesson on June 24, 1911. He flew alone for the first time on July 23, 1911. On that same day, he flew with Welsh as a passenger. They set a new American record for how high two people could fly, reaching 1,860 feet (567 meters). On August 5, 1911, Beatty broke his own record! He flew to 3,080 feet (939 meters) with Percy Reynolds as his passenger.