THE TENSION: Milestone: US Army Marks Centennial of Aviation

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2008 -- September 2008 marks the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Army Aviation. From humble beginnings working with the Wright Brothers to reigning over the modern battlefield, Army Aviation has played a significant role in shaping the Army of today.

From their humble beginnings working along side the Wright Brothers, Army aviators have been pioneers in aviation and they have played a key role in forming and shaping Army doctrine and tactics on the battlefield.

As we celebrate the first 100 years of Army aviation, this site is designed to give a glimpse into the birth and growth of the that community as we showcase the men, equipment, missions and conflicts that helped shape us into who we are today.

Today, modern Army aviators perform a multitude of complex missions from patrolling the skies over modern battlefields while piloting unmanned aerial vehicles from remote locations to dominating the modern battlefield in the middle of the day or during the dark of night.