While they always haven’t had a town hall in Occoquan, they’ve held regular town business meetings for years.
Town Mayor Earnie Porta tells us the town staff uncovered meeting minutes dating back about 90 years to the early 1930s. Porta says some meetings were held inside shops and inside people’s homes.
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A small-scale replica of Aerodrome No.5, a lighter-than-air craft launched near Quantico in 1896, seven years before the famed Wright Brothers flight in Kitty Hawk, N.C. [Photo: Rick Horner][/caption]
The Stafford Regional Airport held an event to announce the launch of its Aerodrome No.5 project, which will tell the story of the county's connection to early American aviation.
Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley is noted for successfully conducting the first heavier-than-air flight on May 6, 1896, with the designated Aerodrome No. 5. Langley chose Chopawamsic Island, a small land mass in the Potomac River between Quantico and Stafford County, as his launching point.
The 14-foot structure was launched from a houseboat off of the island's coast and flew approximately 3,300 feet for 90 seconds before having a gentle landing on the river. The Aerodrome No.5 flight is the first instance of mechanical flight in the U.S., event organizers said.
Until now historians have credited The Wright Brothers are credited for being the first to fully when they flew a heavier-than-air contraption at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on December 17, 1903. The state coined the phrase "first in flight" and printed it on its vehicle license plates.
Langley beat his record on November 26, 1896, when Aerodrome No.6 was launched from the same location and flew 4,200 feet at an average speed of 30 miles per hour.
"Stafford's history is so rich and deep, we want to get it out there and talk about it," said Scott Mayausky, treasurer of the Langley Flight Foundation. "What Langley achieved changed the course of world history, he was an instrumental part of that, and it happened right here in Stafford County. We want to recognize that, acknowledge that, and be proud that it happened here in Stafford County."
In addition to his position with the foundation, Mayausky is also the president of the Stafford Museum and Cultural Museum and the county's Commissioner of Revenue.
The Foundation and the Stafford Regional Airport have formed a partnership to have a to-scale model of Aerodrome No.5 built to display it in the airport's terminal. The 14 by 14 model intends to use it for educational purposes for students interested in STEM fields such as engineering, aviation, and mathematics.
Other possibilities of use for the Aerodrome No.5 exhibit include spurring more economic development and tourism, which could attract aviation enthusiasts and airplane and drone development.
"This is an incredible opportunity to not only educate people not only about a little-known aspect of Stafford's history but to give people a sense of the whole concept of what happened here and how we can move forward in the future," said Hank Scharpenberg, a member of the Stafford Regional Airport Authority.
The event was-co sponsored by the Langley Flight Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, seeking funding of $350,000 for constructing a replica of Aerodrome No.5. The Wright Experience in Warrenton would build the model, to be housed at the Stafford Regional Airport.
The original Aerodrome No.5 sits at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
The Langley Foundation has set up a GoFundMe page as one method of raising funds for the exhibit. Donations for the project can also be made on the foundation's webpage at langfound.org.
Manassas seeks further protection for Liberia House — As Manassas officials aim to add density in and around the Mathis Avenue corridor, the city is working to maintain the green space around one of its historic assets. [Insidenova.com]
Two key Virginia congressional races could impact control of U.S. House — Voters from across the country will determine who controls the U.S. House of Representatives in November, and the outcome of two key Virginia races could affect the final result. [The Center Square]
After winning the series with Down East last night, the FredNats were shut out by a final of 6-0 today at the hands of the Wood Ducks. The team only managed one hit, belonging to Jared McKenzie in the 7th inning.
Jose Atencio took the loss for Fredericksburg, pitching 4 2/3 innings and allowing six earned runs. He struck out five. McKenzie and Sammy Infante were the only base runners in the game for the FredNats.
The traffic signals on Route 610 in North Stafford are talking to each other better now, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
VDOT recently completed a project to upgrade traffic signal communications and timing along the Route 610 (Garrisonville Road) corridor in North Stafford.
A Stafford County man is charged in the death of a Dumfries man killed in a crash on Route 234.
Jesse Rean Bacha, 35, of 752 Widewater Road, is charged with reckless driving, Prince William police said. He has a pending court date and was released on a summons.
The Fredericksburg Nationals announced two staff promotions today.
Tory Goodman is now the minor-league baseball team’s new Vice President of Partnerships, and David Woodard is Vice President of Ticket Sales and Operations.
At 7:39 p.m. Thursday, August 25, firefighters were dispatched to the 8000 block of Erika Drive, near Colgan High School, for a house fire. Crews arrived with heavy fire and smoke showing from an attached garage.
A neighbor saw smoke and called 911. The home’s occupants were not there when flames broke out, said Prince William fire and rescue Assistant Chief Matt Smolsky.
The Prince William Chamber of Commerce will honor the armed forces.
The annual Salute to the Armed Forces is Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chantilly Jet Center, 10660 Skyview Terrace, at the Manassas Regional Airport.
