Much has been written about the evolution of the First Aero Company, New York National Guard, and much of that information has been lost to old files, dusty file cabinets, and musty memories. The goal of this web site is to recapture the imagination, excitement, and yes, fascination, of these early pioneers of aviation. In my endeavor to ensure that I have covered all of this history I may duplicate information found at another web site. My effort is to put the people and places together in one place on the internet for students of aviation and American history. All too often, as I constructed these pages, I came across the names of the same pioneers that subsequently formed the Army Air Corps and served as its early leaders.

We first meet Lahm, Foulis and Selfridge on the initial day of training, 100 years ago this May. I also found that Henry Woodhouse, one of the earliest proponents of aviation in the Army, supported the effort to form aero wings in the U.S. Navy. It was a small world then, practically speaking, and all of the inventors, financiers, backers, and aviators knew each other. My hope is to bring them back to life in your imagination as we enter the 21st Century. So take your time here, learn how the unit was formed, how it matured, and where it is today. This is your story.