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Why did the Wright brothers think airplanes would be useful to the military?

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military aircraft Tupolev Tu-22M, a Russian variable-wing supersonic jet bomber first flown in 1969. It was designed for potential use in war against the NATO countries, where it was known by the designation “Backfire.”

Wilbur and Orville Wright believed that the airplane would be primarily useful for military reconnaissance.1

Following their success with the first powered, sustained, and controlled flights in 1903, the brothers sought to demonstrate the practical utility of their invention to government agencies. Their focus on reconnaissance aligned with the established military use of balloons, which had been employed for observation and reporting on enemy positions since the late 18th century.12

In February 1908, the Wrights secured their first contract with the U.S. Army to provide a military aircraft capable of carrying two people at a minimum speed of 40 miles per hour. This contract underscored the military's interest in leveraging the speed and mobility of heavier-than-air flight for strategic intelligence gathering, long before airplanes were widely adapted for offensive roles like bombing or aerial combat.132