Fort Myers Celebration Held September 6th The Army worked to celebrate a century of military aviation on September 6th. Heavy rains and flooded streets marked the scene but despite the presence of Tropical Storm Hanna, several hundred people turned out to Conmy Hall in Arlington, Virginia. The replica of the first airplane, the 1908 Wright Brothers replica engine was started for the crowd. The airplane was part of a flight that was first in a series leading to a $30,000 dollar Army contract that was awarded to the Wright brothers in July 1909. The Saturday ceremony marked the attendance of the families of Orville and Wilber Wright. Their ancestors sacrifices were part of the history and contribution by the Army, and by Orville and Wilber Wright, not only to Army aviation but to aviation overall. The crowd enjoyed the replicas of the first airplanes, and the different displays that were part of the celebration. The sound of the replica airplane engine served to demonstrate the success of the propeller designed by Orville Wright, meeting the Army specifications established for the first US Army Aviation airplanes. The Wright Brothers Army airplane was the first airplane used in the Army and held for extensive usage.