Wright Brothers Interlaken Air Show
Seven years after the Wright brother’s history making flight at Kitty Hawk, most Americans had yet to see an airplane. To generate interest and create industry, the Wrights took their airplanes to the people. 1910 became the year of air shows and aviation history was made right in Interlaken.
The ten day Interlaken Air Show (13 due to rain) was billed as America’s Greatest Air Meet. It was sponsored by the Aero & Motor Club Inc. of Asbury Park to generate tourism. It was called the Asbury Park Aviation Meet at Interlaken since Interlaken was considered a restricted suburb of Asbury Park at the time and Interlaken had the only large space available for such an event.
The first day of the Meet was much anticipated since signs were posted all over weeks in advance and the event was covered in local and major city newspapers as well. Thousands flocked to the 40 Acre field on the northwest section of Interlaken starching from Interlaken Park all the way over to Windermere Ave. They came to see the five Wright Brothers trained pilots to perform their death defying feats. On Monday, August 10th, excitement was in the air, the crowds shouted and cheered and automobile horns sounded. Spectators were about to witness record setting firsts and horrific tragedies.
Deemed an overwhelming success by both sponsors and attendees, the Famous Interlaken Field Air Meet drew over 100,000 spectators and played an important tole in Aviation History and Interlaken’s Growth/
A map of the Interlaken Air Field
