Letter: Belmont Park made air history, too
Orville Wright, right, talks to a pilot just before starting on his breaking flight of 9716 feet at Belmont Park, International Aviation in 1910. Credit: Nassau County Museum Collection
I am pleased that Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) introduced a bipartisan bill highlighting Long Island's rich aviation history ["Flying into history," News, July 23].
However, I am upset that the community of Elmont, and the iconic Belmont Park -- the real birthplace of aviation on Long Island, before even Mitchel Field -- are omitted from the legislation.
Belmont Park's contributions to aviation include creation of the U.S. Air Mail Service and the International Aviation Tournament, one of the nation's first air shows, in October 1910, that drew crowds of more than 150,000 people and was attended by the Wright brothers. It is the place that inspired many young pilots, including Charles Lindbergh himself, to fly.
Editor's note: The writer is the director of the Nassau County Coalition of Civic Associations, Region 9.
