On This Day in History / October 24, 2022 1942: Putting an end to Samuel Pierpont Langley’s claims to manned, powered flight, Smithsonian Secretary Charles G. Walcott admits that the Langley Aerodrome A had no chance of actually flying. This opened the way for the return of the original Wright Flyer to the Smithsonian Institution where it was displayed in the “Castle.”