College Park Airport "Firsts"

Explore the history of College Park Airport, its significant aviation firsts, and other online exhibits below

The Airport's History

In 1909, after proving the practicality of aviation to the U.S. Army, Wilbur Wright trained the first generation of military aviators at a new airfield in what would come to be known as College Park.

The College Park Airport has been home to a century of aviation history, and still operates today, making it the oldest continually operated airport in the world. It is home to many “firsts” in aviation and is particularly significant for the well-known aviators and aviation inventors who played a part in this field’s long history.

Founding of the College Park Airport

The Field of Firsts

Army Signal Corps Aviation School

Early Civilian Aviation

Airmail

The Berliner Helicopter

Radio Navigation Aids

ERCO (Engineering and Research Corporation)

Brinkerhoff Era

College Park Airport Today

A Field of Firsts

College Park Airport is known as the "Field of Firsts" for the many aviation "firsts" that happened at the field throughout its history.

Click through the gallery of photos to explore some of those firsts.

First aerial photograph of College Park, site of the first military aviation school, 1911

First testing of a machine gun on an airplane, 1912 at College Park Airport

Bernetta Miller demonstrates a monoplane for the U.S. Army at College Park

First enlisted man to die in aviation accident, at College Park, 1912

First airmail service in the U.S. out of College Park

The testing of the Berliner helicopter at College Park by father and son duo Emile and Henry Berliner in 1924, the first controlled helicopter flight

First controlled helicopter flight

Father and son duo Emile and Henry Berliner tested an experimental helicopter at College Park Airport from 1920-1925. The Model B (pictured) performed the first controlled vertical flight on June 16, 1922. The Berliners were the first incorporate a tail rotor. The Model B was the first Berliner helicopter to have an airplane body, or fuselage. This was so make landings safer and help the machine turn.

Caleb Smith, youngest glider pilot in nation, flies into College Park Airport

CP Day 9-24-16 photo copyright Michael G. Stewart CPAM093.jpg

Aircraft on Display

Explore the planes that have flown at College Park Airport

on display at the College Park Aviation Museum

Learn More

Museum exhibits

Stop by the museum to see our exhibits exploring the history of College Park Airport and aviation in Maryland

Love on the Airfield

Love is in the air! Let your heart take flight at our new exhibit “Love on the Airfield,” featuring stories of romance found across the Maryland skies.

Want a sneak peek? Take our quiz to find your "Love on the Airfield" match. ❤

Take the quiz

Columbia Air Center - Determined to Fly

Our upcoming groundbreaking, interactive exhibit will tell the overlooked history of Columbia Air Center, the first licensed Black-owned and operated airport in the nation, operating in Croom, Prince George’s County, MD from 1940-1962.

Learn more about the Columbia Air Center