First Flight

"First Flight" shows the first powered, controlled, sustained flight by man.

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. The flight covered 120 feet in 12 seconds, and started at 10:35 a.m., in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

At the top of the montage are portraits of Orville on the left at age 34 and Wilbur on the right at age 38.

The First Flight photograph is attributed to Wilbur and/or Orville Wright. Orville Wright preset the camera and had John T. Daniels squeeze the rubber bulb, tripping the shutter. The individual portraits are attributed to Orville and/or Wilbur Wright.

Frame : 1 1/2" flat black wood, Size : 17 1/8" x 22"

Housed in the Prints & Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

Price: $110.00

Availability: Usually ships in one to two weeks

Product #: M-0001