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10 June 1909, The members of the Aero Club of Washington walked from the Cosmos Club to the White House where President Taft presented medals to Orville and Wilbur Wright

1909 – A vintage year for both the Wrights and aviation

During the weeks following their visit to the White House, the brothers successfully tested a plane at Ft. Myer. In August, the Army leased its first airfield at College Park, Maryland. In October, Wilbur flew a nonstop roundtrip from Governor’s Island to Grant’s tomb, giving millions of New Yorkers their first eyewitness view of powered flight.

In September, Orville thrilled Germany with demonstration flights. During the following two months, Wilbur taught three army aviators to fly-Lieutenants Frank P. Lahm, Frederic E. Humphrey and B. D. Foulois.

By November, the brothers had been so successful that they were able to organize the Wright Company, capitalized at $1 million.

The flying machine had indeed come to stay.