First Flight of Wright Brothers in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, December 17, 1903

    First Flight of Wright Brothers in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, December 17, 1903
    Courtesy of Library of Congress, Daniels, John T., "First flight, 120 feet in 12 seconds, 10:35 a.m.; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina," 17 December 1903

    Description

    The photograph shows the first powered, controlled and sustained flight. Orville Wright is at the controls of the machine, lying prone on the lower wing with hips in the cradle which operated the wing-warping mechanism. Wilbur Wright running alongside to balance the machine, has just released his hold on the forward upright of the right wing. The starting rail, the wing-rest, a coil box and other items needed for flight preparation are visible behind the machine. Orville Wright preset the camera and had John T. Daniels squeezed the rubber bulb, tripping the shutter.

    Source-Dependent Questions

    • Look closely at the photo. Describe what you see.
    • What evidence in the photo supports that the Wright brothers were innovators in the field of transportation?
    • How did the Wright brothers' plane lead to changes in flight transportation today?

    Citation Information 

    Daniels, John T., "First flight, 120 feet in 12 seconds, 10:35 a.m.; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina," 17 December 1903. Courtesy of Library of Congress

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