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    • Between the first flights of the Wright brothers in 1903 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the airplane grew from an ancient dream into a reality that would shape the future of humanity.
    Aviation
  • Aviation
  • Aircraft
  • Airships
  • Balloons
  • Commercial aviation
  • Early flight
  • General aviation
  • Helicopters
  • Interwar aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Naval aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Ultralights
  • Vertical flight
    • Space
  • Space
  • Uncrewed spaceflight
  • Apollo program
  • Gemini program
  • Human spaceflight
  • Mercury program
  • Space Shuttle program
  • Space stations
  • Commercial spaceflight
  • Spacecraft
    • Art
  • Art
    • Astronomy
  • Astronomy
  • Stars
  • Moon (Earth)
  • Sun
  • Telescopes
    • Behind the scenes
  • Behind the scenes
    • People
  • People
  • African American or Black people
  • Asian American or Asian people
  • Latino people
  • LGBTQ+ people
  • Native American or Indigenous peoples
  • Pacific Islander people
  • People with disabilities
  • Women
    • Records and Firsts
  • Records and Firsts
    • Science
  • Science
  • Life sciences
  • Physical science
    • Society and Culture
  • Society and Culture
  • Science fiction
    • Technology and Engineering
  • Technology and Engineering
  • Missiles
  • Robotics
  • Rockets
  • Satellites
  • Drones
  • Navigation
  • Reconnaissance
    • Solar System
  • Solar System
  • Exoplanets
  • Small solar system bodies
  • Dwarf planets
    • War and Conflict
  • War and Conflict
  • Afghanistan War
  • Gulf War
  • Iraq War
  • Korean War
  • Modern military aviation
  • Post-Cold War
  • Vietnam War
  • Weapons
  • Cold War
  • World War I
  • World War II

    • Between the first flights of the Wright brothers in 1903 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the airplane grew from an ancient dream into a reality that would shape the future of humanity.
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    • Stories See all Stories
    Katharine Wright: The Wright Sister March 31, 2023 AirSpace Season 7, Episode 8: Flying Circus March 23, 2023 Preservation by Computer March 22, 2023 Conservation Treatment of Gilmore the Flying Lion: Examination February 07, 2023 Roscoe’s Meteor: The Strange Road to Success December 22, 2022
    Exhibitions See all Exhibitions
    Learn more The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC October 14, 2022 - October 14, 2037 Learn more Early Flight National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC October 14, 2022 - October 14, 2037
    Learning Resources See all Learning Resources
    STEM in 30: The Wright Stuff: Flying the Wright Flyer Join STEM in 30 as we investigate the principals of flight and how the Wright Flyer made it into the air and into the history books. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnML3I-yYyo Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Aircraft, Early flight, Aviation

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         Air and Space Live Chat: The Wright Brothers In 1903 the Wright brothers developed and flew the first successful airplane. This chat features Tom Crouch; Wright brothers historian; and Keith Yourg; a relative of Orville and Wilbur Wright. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2tetlX7v6U Aviation, Records and Firsts, Early flight

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         Flights of Fancy Craft Time: Make a Biplane Join us for a demonstration of how to use a paper towel tube and paper to make a biplane model. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjNOM44c9Bw&list=PL6RlkQnoCx_UqnikM_517xQnqrkN8IBor&index=6 Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2 Aviation, Early flight, Aircraft

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         Flights of Fancy Story Time: Bessie Coleman This story is about the pioneering pilot Bessie Coleman; with sketches by museum educator Diane Kidd. https://youtu.be/7gPF9IzlfcE Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 African American or Black people, Aviation, Early flight

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         Flights of Fancy Story Time: Barnstorming Pilots; Flying Circuses and Air Shows This story is about the incredible flying circuses in the pioneering days of flight. https://youtu.be/V1o84iybFkM Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Aviation, Early flight, General aviation, Science

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         STEM in 30: How Did Animals Inspire Human Flight? STEM in 30 looks at the four animal groups that achieved flight and inspired humans to develop the ability to fly. https://youtu.be/lxFixuETMFE Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Aviation, Science, Early flight

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    Publications See all Publications
    Learn more Milestones of Flight: The Epic of Aviation with the National Air and Space Museum Learn more First Flight Around the World: The Adventures of the American Fliers Who Won the Race
    Explore other subtopics Aircraft Commercial aviation Sports aviation Military aviation Naval aviation Vertical flight Helicopters General aviation Balloons Early flight Airships Ultralights Interwar aviation