This plaque commemorates two of humankind's greatest flight achievements: the first powered, controlled flight of the Wright brothers in December 1903 and the first human lunar landing (Apollo 11) in July 1969. The fabric and wood pieces in the middle of the plaque are from the Wright Brothers airplane, Kitty Hawk. These two pieces were flown on the Apollo 11 mission and were in the lunar module "Eagle" that landed on the Moon with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr.
The plaque was transferred to the Smithsonian from the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1972.
Display Status
This object is on display in Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
MEMORABILIA-Events
Dimensions
3-D (framed, 631g): 33.5 × 2 × 19cm, 0.6kg (1 ft. 1 3/16 in. × 13/16 in. × 7 1/2 in., 1.3lb.)
2-D - Unframed (H x W) (Wood Chip): 1.3 × 3cm (1/2 × 1 3/16 in.)
2-D - Unframed (H x W) (Fabric): 8.9 × 10.2cm (3 1/2 in. × 4 in.)
Materials
Paper, fabric, wood
Inventory Number
A19721288000
Credit Line
Gift of the U.S. Air Force Museum
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.
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