In 1908 the Wright Brothers tried to sell their invention, the airplane, to which organization?

Following their historic first flight in 1903, the Wright Brothers found that fame did not immediately translate into fortune. For years, they struggled to find a serious buyer for their invention, facing widespread disbelief and a lack of vision from potential customers. After generating interest in Europe, they finally got the attention of their own government, leading to a formal demonstration for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the precursor to the Air Force.

The pivotal trials took place in September 1908 at Fort Myer, Virginia. While many of the flights were successful, the demonstration ended in disaster. During a flight with Orville at the controls, a propeller fractured, sending the aircraft into a fatal dive. Orville was severely injured, and his passenger, Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, became the first person to die in a powered airplane crash.

Despite the tragedy, the Army had seen enough to believe in the airplane's potential. The Wrights returned the following year, completed the tests successfully, and sold their "Wright Military Flyer" to the Signal Corps for $30,000. This landmark purchase marked the birth of military aviation in the United States and gave the brothers their first significant contract, securing their place in history.