First airport, first cargo: skies got organised

The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, conducted their historic first flight on December 17, 1903, at Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The area was chosen for its steady winds, soft sandy landing surface and relative remoteness because it was a beach.

The dunes provided a natural incline for testing gliders before powered flight. The sandy surface offered a forgiving landing area, reducing the risk of damage to the aircraft.

Six years later, the brothers established the world’s first airport, College Park Airport. Located in College Park, Maryland, USA, it was established in 1909 and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating airport in the world. It was initially used as a training site for military aviators and hosted the first airmail service trials in the United States in 1918.

Today, College Park Airport serves as a living museum of aviation history. It operates a small number of general aviation flights and houses the College Park …