1903 Wright Flyer

Side of wood, fabric, and metal canard biplane 1903 Wright Flyer in museum
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The Wright brothers inaugurated the aerial age with the world's first successful flights of a powered heavier-than-air flying machine. The Wright Flyer was the product of a sophisticated four-year program of research and development conducted by Wilbur and Orville Wright beginning in 1899. After building and testing three full-sized gliders, the Wrights' first powered airplane flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, making a 12-second flight, traveling 36 m (120 ft), with Orville piloting.

Created:

February 27, 2017

Photographer:

Eric Long

ID#:

A19610048000-NASM2018-10801

Source:

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Owner:

Smithsonian Institution

Rights Usage:

Public Domain

Terms of Use:

Smithsonian Terms of Use

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