He wasn't around when Wilbur and Orville Wright took part in the world's first powered flight 100 years ago. But Bob Watts, of Bismarck, has nearly as much history in the aviation business.

And now anyone who's interested can get a glimpse of that history at Buckstop Junction.

The old Capitol Aviation Corp. hangar building was moved from the Bismarck Airport to Buckstop. On Saturday afternoon, to commemorate 100 years of powered flight, the Bismarck-Mandan chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association held an event at Buckstop.

Speakers talked about the history of flight and the nearly 100 in attendance had a chance to check out the old Capitol Aviation hangar. EAA chapters from across the state will spend volunteer time on fixing up the hangar and will donate memorabilia to be displayed in the building.

The building was constructed by the city of Bismarck in the early 1930s and Watts started his business there in 1946.

For those in attendance, Saturday was not only a chance to check out the hangar, but also to talk about the amazing accomplishment by the Wright brothers 100 years ago.

"To me, Orville and Wilbur Wright were geniuses," said Darrell Pittman, an air traffic controller and pilot from Minot.

(Reach reporter Mark Hanson at 250-8264 or mark.hanson@bismarcktribune.com.)