Monday, April 12, 2010

1903 Wright Flyer, Smithsonian


National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

1903 Wright Flyer

On a chilly windswept beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright inaugurated the aerial age with their historical flight on December 17th, 1903. The Wright Flyer was the world's first heavier-than-air, powered craft to make a sustained controlled flight with a pilot aboard. With Orville at the controls and Wilbur observing, the first flight covered the distance of 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds. A total of four flights were made with the Flyer, the best traveling 852 feet in 59 seconds with Wilbur as the pilot.

Photograph by Mark Avino

Postmarked in 2007 with USA First -Class 'Liberty Bell Forever' stamp

1 comment:

Dorincard said...

It had no wheels, so it needed to be catapulted. "Powered", huh? :)
Read about Traian Vuia.