The world's oldest airport that's a 116-year-old 'cradle of aviation'

People have been obsessed with for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Early attempts at date back to ancient times, with legends such as Daedalus and Icarus from Greek mythology. In reality, pioneers like Abbas Ibn Firnas in 9th-century and Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century imagined ways humans might eventually take to the skies.

However, it wasn't until the early 20th century that truly took off, eventually leading to the first in the 1910s. Today, the title of the world's oldest continually operating belongs to in Maryland, USA. According to aviation experts at , the airport first opened in August 1909 when Wilbur Wright chose it as the location to train US Army military officers.

Thanks to its huge role in aviation history, College Park Airport is often nicknamed the "cradle of aviation."

It was there that many big milestones took place, including the first mile-high powered flight, the first female passenger flight, and the first controlled helicopter flight, according to the .

Civilian aircraft began operating from College Park as early as December 1911, just a few years after the Wright brothers' historic achievements.

Over time, the site became home to aviation pioneers such as Rex Smith, Paul Peck, and Tony Jannus, and even acted as the base for the nation's first airmail services.

The airport today continues to serve general aviation pilots visiting the Washington, D.C. area.

Located within walking distance of the DC Metro, it offers facilities like full-service fuel, a pilot's lounge, free WiFi, and meeting spaces, all while carefully managing the complex airspace near the nation's capital.

However, after the September 11 attacks in 2001, operations at College Park were restricted due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., with additional security measures introduced.

In addition to being an active airfield, College Park is home to the College Park Aviation Museum, which opened in 1981.

The museum displays historic aircraft, a 90-seat auditorium, and various artifacts linked to the airport's history.