John Northrop’s All-Wing Vision and the B-2 Stealth Bomber

In ‘This Week in History,’ America’s first International Air Meet inspired a generation of aviators, resulting in one man’s dream to alter aviation design.

A B-2 stealth bomber flies over the Washington Monument at the National Mall, during the Independence Day celebrations in Washington on July 4, 2020. Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images

When America hosted its first International Air Meet from Jan. 10 to Jan. 20, 1910, it had only been six years since the Wright Brothers conducted the world’s first successful sustained flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Flyer first flew for 12 seconds and then ended the day with a 59-second flight, covering 120 feet and 852 feet, respectively. The crowd of spectators for this history-making event, aside from Orville and Wilbur Wright, numbered five people. The International Air Meet exemplified the growth and excitement of aviation.

The International Air Meet took place on the opposite side of the continent in Los Angeles. It showcased 16 different planes (43 were scheduled), witnessed flights that covered 110 miles and reached higher than 4,000 feet. It was attended by more than 250,000 people.