For the nation which first achieved the goal of powered flight, it is amazing just how backward the United States came to be during the years which followed Orville Wright's history-making flight on 17 December 1903. Much of this can be traced back to the last years of the 19th century, when the US Army gave official blessing «and money) to Samuel P. Langley, in order to develop and fly a powered aircraft.
The US Army was no stranger to aerial warfare, having used balloons during the Civil War. In 1898 Langley was commissioned to build his 'Aerodrome, and following successful model tests, it was ready for flight in October 1903. Unfortunately this attempt failed, as did another in December, leaving the Wright Brothers to carry off the prize of first powered flight...