First Brickyard Airshow - 1910

The original vision of Carl Fisher for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was that it would be a multi-purpose facility. A big part of what was happening in those days of the industrial revolution was the emergence of the airplane. Both the automobile and aircraft were marvels of the age - and they shared a lot of the same technology. At their hearts was the internal combustion engine and the drive train derived from by the safety bicycle that exploded on the scene in the 1890's: gears and chain.
 

Fisher, being Fisher, jumped in with both feet. He not only started a garage and car dealership but also an airplane manufacturing business. At his Speedway he created the Aerodrome in 1910, which was a hangar for airplanes and storage for balloons. It can be seen in the image here.
 
Click thru and learn much more about America's first national airshow - which was presented at the Speedway. You'll get your wings, we promise.