The Wright brothers inaugurated the aerial age with the world's first successful flights of a human-carrying, powered, and controlled heavier-than-air flying machine. By 1908 the Wrights were demonstrating their machines in Europe. This collection consists of three black and white photographs of Orville and Wilbur Wright, with a Wright (Co) Type A aircraft, taken in 1908 and 1909 in France and Germany.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of three black and white photographs, ranging in size from approximately 6 by 4 inches to 7 by 5 inches, of Orville and Wilbur Wright, taken in 1908 and 1909 in France and Germany. Two photographs show Wilbur Wright at the Hunaudiéres Race Course in Le Mans, France in August 1908. In one image, the Wright (Co) Type A, with Wilbur a att the controls, can be seen in flight. In the second image from France, Wilbur Wright is shown seated at the controls of his Wright (Co) Type A aircraft. The third image in the collection shows Orville Wright standing with two unidentified men near the tail of the Wright (Co) Type A Templehof Field, Berlin, Germany, in August or September 1909.
Arrangement:
Collection is in chronological order.
Biographical / Historical:
The Wright brothers inaugurated the aerial age with the world's first successful flights of a human-carrying, powered, and controlled 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. The best flight of the day, with Wilbur at the controls, covered 255.6 m (852 ft) in 59 seconds. By 1908 the Wrights were demonstrating their machines in Europe.
Provenance:
Jacques Perier, Gift, 2011, NASM.2011.0010.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
