ANS, one page, 6.25 x 7.75, July 31, 1909. Wright writes to an unknown recipient, in full: “With pleasant remembrances of our association in the ‘flying days’ at Fort Meyer.” In fine condition, with three marginal spots of toning from mounting remnants on reverse, and a few stray ink marks to the left edge of date. On September 3, 1908, Orville demonstrated a military flyer to the United States Army at Fort Myer, Virginia. Six days later, his first attempted flight lasted more than an hour, clocking 62 minutes and 15 seconds in the air. On September 17, Army lieutenant Thomas Selfridge rode as his passenger, serving as an official observer. A few minutes into the flight, at an altitude of about 100 feet, a propeller split, sending the aircraft out of control. Selfridge was killed in the crash, the first person to die in powered fixed-wing aircraft. Orville was badly injured, suffering a broken left leg and four broken ribs. In July 1909 Orville, with Wilbur assisting, completed the proving flights for the US Army, meeting the requirements of a two-seater able to fly with a passenger for an hour at an average of speed of 40 m.p.h. and to land undamaged. The Wrights sold the aircraft to the Army’s Aeronautical Division, US Signal Corps for $30,000 (including a $5,000 bonus for exceeding the speed specification).
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