Ohio’s Newest Official State Symbol: The Wright Flyer III
The World’s First Practical Aircraft.
Governor DeWine with Senate Bill 24, which officially names the 1905 Wright Flyer III as Ohio’s State Airplane, April 2, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
You might be familiar with many of Ohio’s state symbols. From the cardinal to the Ohio buckeye, the white-tailed deer, and the state flag, there are many iconic symbols that represent the natural and cultural heritage of our state. But did you know that Ohio now has an official state airplane? On April 2, 2025 , Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 24 into law, designating the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical aircraft, as an official symbol of Ohio’s rich aviation heritage. But where did the tradition of states symbols begin? And why is the Wright Flyer III the perfect symbol to honor Ohio’s past, present, and future state identity? Read on to learn more about the history of state symbols and the legacy of this history-making aircraft.
State Symbols: From Seals to Flowers to… Dinosaurs?
The tradition of states adopting official symbols is as old as the United States itself. Shortly after declaring independence from Great Britain, multiple states’ legislators began adopting official symbols, called seals, to represent their state’s distinct identity and sovereignty, further separating themselves from British authority. New Jersey was the first, adopting a seal in October 1776 that depicted three ploughs on a shield supported by Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty and freedom, and Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. Pennsylvania soon followed in 1777 with a seal that features imagery of a ship, a plow, and three sheaves of wheat. In addition to seals, state flags were another important state symbol used by leaders to foster statewide pride and unity in the early years of the American Revolution.
Ohio’s own official state seal was originally adopted in 1803. It features a sheaf of wheat next to a bundle of seventeen arrows, representing Ohio’s agricultural heritage and status as the seventeenth state to join the United States.
It wasn’t until 1893 that state symbols started to become a bit more creative than the standard official seal or flag. At the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, women’s groups from each state adorned their exhibits with flowers that best represented their region’s landscape. Inspired by this idea and Washington’s adoption of the coast rhododendron as its official state flower the previous year, the exposition’s Women’s Congress proposed creating a garland featuring flowers from each state. The flower would be chosen by a state’s citizens and then officially approved by state legislators. However, many state legislators went beyond the exposition garland project and opted to name their state’s chosen flower as official state symbols, such as Nebraska’s goldenrod in 1895. Next came state birds. Like state flowers, it was a women’s group, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, that encouraged states to select official birds to represent their state’s natural identity in the 1920s. Kentucky’s legislators were first to do so, selecting the Northern cardinal in 1926. They were soon followed by Alabama (the Northern flicker), Florida (the Northern mockingbird), and Maine (the chickadee). Ohio also selected the Northern cardinal seven years later in 1933 and so did Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia – the cardinal is a popular bird!
Although the Memphis Belle was named Tennessee’s state airplane, you can visit the historic B-17F right here in Dayton, Ohio, in the World War II Gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
In the decades following, the phenomenon of states selecting official symbols continued to grow and today, every state has at least a handful of symbols. As the most common symbols, such as flags and flowers, lose their novelty, state legislators are selecting some increasingly specific symbols, including Arizona’s official firearm, the Colt single-action revolver, Nebraska’s official soft drink, Kool-Aid, and New Jersey’s official dinosaur, the duckbill Hadrosaurus foulkii. In addition to these unique state symbols, aviation designations have recently been gaining in popularity- Ohio’s recent adoption of an official state airplane follows a handful of other states celebrating their own aviation heritage. In 2005, New Mexico designated the hot air balloon as their official state aircraft, celebrating Albuquerque’s ideal ballooning weather conditions that earned it the status of the “Hot Air Ballooning Capital of the World.” Tennessee followed in 2017, selecting the World War II-era Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the Memphis Belle, which obtained its iconic name from the original pilot’s sweetheart, Margaret Polk, who resided in Memphis. Pennsylvania takes pride in the Piper J-3 Cub, a bright yellow, lightweight aircraft beloved by pilots around the world and originally manufactured in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Ultimately, from the mundane to the unusual, from birds to airplanes, these state symbols offer a way for state citizens and legislators to work together to define and celebrate their state’s distinct heritage and identity.
The History and Significance of the 1905 Wright Flyer III
The 1905 Wright Flyer III in flight at Huffman Prairie Flying Field, with Orville Wright piloting, September 7, 1905.
Given Ohio’s deep-rooted aviation legacy, as home to the Wright brothers, multiple astronauts, and world-renowned aerospace innovation, it is only fitting that the state has an official state aircraft. The selection of the 1905 Wright Flyer III, in particular, carries deep significance, representing a pivotal moment in aviation history and Ohio’s lasting impact on the aerospace field. While Orville and Wilbur had proven that powered flight was possible with their earlier aircraft designs, it was the Flyer III that marked a significant turning point in aviation history. Built in the winter of 1904-1905, it was the first airplane capable of controlled, sustained flight, with the ability to turn, bank, and land safely, earning it the title of the world’s first practical airplane. This achievement, however, did not come without challenges. During a test flight in July 1905 at Huffman Prairie Flying Field, the Flyer III crashed nose-first into the ground, violently throwing the pilot, Orville, out of the plane through the top wing and crumpling the front of the aircraft. Although Orville survived with minor injuries, the crash convinced the brothers that major changes were needed to their Flyer design. Wasting no time, the brothers made significant modifications to the Flyer III, including enlarging the rudder and elevator, reinforcing the frame, and refining the control system. These changes proved to be successful and only two months after the July crash, Wilbur successfully flew an astonishing 24 miles over nearly 40 minutes, far longer than all their previous flights combined.
The 1905 Wright Flyer III on display in Wright Hall in the Wright Brothers National Museum at Carillon Historical Park.
Orville’s serious crash in the Flyer III could have marked the end of the Wright brothers’ quest to achieve controlled, sustained human flight. Instead, because of the brother’s tenacity, courage, and ingenuity, it marked a major turning point in aviation and the creation of the world’s first practical airplane. In 1947, decades after the Wright Flyer III and other Wright airplanes had made their mark on history, one of Orville’s last acts before his death a year later was ensuring this important plane was preserved for years to come. While creating the exhibit that would eventually become Carillon Historical Park, Colonel Edward Deeds asked Orville to select one of the Wrights’ aircraft for display. Orville selected the Wright Flyer III and personally oversaw the restoration of the plane, of which eighty percent was original. He even assisted in the design and construction of the building that would house the plane, Wright Hall. Today, the Wright Flyer III still stands in Wright Hall, part of the Wright Brothers National Museum, located at Carillon Historical Park, where hundreds of thousands of visitors come each year to witness this groundbreaking artifact firsthand. As the first ever plane to be designated a National Historic Landmark, the Flyer III serves as a lasting tribute to the Wright brothers’ innovation and Ohio’s central role in the history of aviation.
Why Now?
Although sometimes state symbols might seem to get a bit out of hand (we’re looking at you, Arizona and your state neckwear, the bolo tie), they ultimately highlight the unique identities of each state and tell the story of a state’s heritage and future. The 1905 Wright Flyer III is a powerful representation of Ohio’s past, present, and future in aviation. At a time when Ohio continues to lead in aerospace innovation, now is the perfect time to honor and celebrate Ohio’s unique aviation heritage and its role in shaping the future of flight. The Wright Flyer III’s journey from an experimental aircraft to the world’s first practical airplane mirrors Ohio’s own story as a state built on ingenuity, resilience, and a pioneering spirit. Its designation as Ohio’s official state airplane is not just a tribute to the innovation of the Wright brothers but a recognition of Ohio’s lasting contributions to aviation and aerospace innovation. Just as the cardinal represents Ohio’s natural beauty and the buckeye tree symbolizes its landscape, the 1905 Wright Flyer III represents our state’s role as the Birthplace of Aviation.
