Political Quotes

“I rise in reaction to my colleague and friend, the gentleman from North Carolina's public objection to Dayton, Ohio being known as the birthplace of aviation. No one disputes the fact that Kittyhawk in North Carolina was the site of the first successful controlled power flight in history. However, Dayton, Ohio's claim to be the birthplace of aviation is based upon much more than just the first limited flight. As a new historical work on the lives of the Wright brothers states, ``The four short flights in North Carolina showed that their math was close enough; Heavier than air flight was possible. The practicality of the Wright Flyer was achieved in 1904 and 1905 in a little-known place of great consequence, Huffman Prairie, an 85-acre cow pasture 10 miles east of Dayton. Huffman Prairie Flying Field, which is in the Seventh Congressional District, which just happens to be my district, is located on the grounds of Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The flying field, which is undergoing a restoration to its 1905 appearance, has recently been opened to the general public, complete with a new interpretive center so visitors can understand the importance of the early flight testing and aircraft development that occurred there.”