Kishman Votes to Make Wright Flyer III Official State Plane

COLUMBUS — State Representative Matthew Kishman (R-Minerva) voted to adopt the 1905 Wright Flyer III as the official state airplane Wednesday when the Ohio House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 24. The aircraft was first flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright at Huffman Prairie outside of Dayton, Ohio and is recognized as the world’s first practical airplane, staying in flight for 39 minutes and 24 seconds on Oct. 5, 1905.

“As the Birthplace of Aviation, I was surprised to learn that we hadn’t already enshrined the Wright Flyer, officially, as our state airplane,” said Kishman. “Problem solved!”

The 1905 Wright Flyer III is the only airplane in the country to be designated as a National Historic Landmark. The original plane was carefully restored with the help and oversight of Orville in 1947 and is now on display at the Wright Brothers Aviation Center at Carillon Historic Park in Dayton.

The legislation will now head to the Governor’s office for his consideration.