Orville Wright Collection

The Wright Brothers First Heavier-than-air Flight
On December 17, 1903, at 10:30 am at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, this airplane arose for a few seconds to make the first powered, heavier-than-air controlled flight in history

Orville Wrights Test His Gilder at Kitty Hawk, NC
A photograph of Orville Wright in his glider at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1911. On October 24, 1911 Orville tested a new glider and broke all the previous gliding records by actually soaring

Wilber and Orville Wright with Flyer II at Huffman Prairie
Wilbur and Orville Wright with the Flyer II at Huffman Prairie, outside of Dayton, Ohio, in May 1904. The Wrights had a much more difficult time testing their aircraft at Huffman Prairie than at Kill

Wilbur and Orville Wright with Flyer II at Huffman Prairie, Dayton, Ohio, USA, May 1, 1904. The Wrights had a much more difficult time testing their aircraft at Huffman Prairie than at Kill Devil

1902 Wright Brothers Glider Tests
Historic photo of the Wright brothers third test glider being launched at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, on October 10, 1902

The Wright brothers 1903 Flyer plane, side view

Wright Brothers Glider Tests, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, USA, October 10, 1902. Historic photo of the Wright brothers third test glider being launched

Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop, 1937. Creator: Unknown
Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop, 1937. After a brief stint in the printing business, Orville and Wilbur Wright opened a bicycle sales

Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) (photo)
3585905 Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) (photo); (add.info.: Photograph of Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) an American inventor and aviation pioneer. Dated 20th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Wright biplane of the pusher type
3732813 The Wright biplane of the pusher type; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the Wright biplane of the pusher type with elevators at the front)

Orville Wright, with his autograph
NWI4949067 Orville Wright, with his autograph.; (add.info.: Orville Wright, with his autograph.); Photo © North Wind Pictures.

The Wright biplane of the pusher type, 1900s (photo)
3732816 The Wright biplane of the pusher type, 1900s (photo); (add.info.: Photograph depicting the Wright biplane of the pusher type with elevators at the front)

Design for the 'Flyer 1' by the Wright Brothers
3732815 Design for the 'Flyer 1' by the Wright Brothers; (add.info.: Design for the 'Flyer 1' by the Wright Brothers)

The Wright Pilot's seat, early 20th century (engraving)
3732812 The Wright Pilot's seat, early 20th century (engraving); (add.info.: Illustration depicting the Wright Pilot's seat - a crane-bottomed chair with the legs sawn off)

Wilbur Wright, early 20th century (photo)
3585907 Wilbur Wright, early 20th century (photo); (add.info.: Photograph of Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) an American inventor and aviation pioneer. Dated 20th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Wilbur Wright, early 20th century (photo)
3585904 Wilbur Wright, early 20th century (photo); (add.info.: Photograph of Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) an American inventor and aviation pioneer. Dated 20th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The first flight of the Wright Brothers (photo)
3585903 The first flight of the Wright Brothers (photo); (add.info.: Photograph taken during the first flight of the Wright Brothers. Dated 20th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Army Aviation, College Park Aviation Field - Wright Brothers Plane, Wrecked, 1911. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Army Aviation, College Park Aviation Field - Wright Brothers Plane, Wrecked, 1911. [Early test flights in Maryland]

Wright Brothers Airplane, Etc - Harry Atwood, 1911. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Brothers Airplane, Etc - Harry Atwood, 1911. [US aviation pineer, engineer and inventor Atwood was chief flight instructor for William Starling Burgess whose Burgess Company built a variety of

Aviator Harry Atwood, in Plane with Leo Stevens, 1911. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Aviator Harry Atwood, in Plane with Leo Stevens, 1911. [US aviation pineer, engineer and inventor Atwood was chief flight instructor for William Starling Burgess whose Burgess Company built a variety

Wright Brothers Airplane, Etc - Harry Atwood, 1911. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Brothers Airplane, Etc - Harry Atwood, 1911. [US aviation pineer, engineer and inventor Atwood was chief flight instructor for William Starling Burgess whose Burgess Company built a variety of

Wright Bros. Flight, between 1909 and 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Wright Bros. Flight, between 1909 and 1912
Wright Bros. Flight, between 1909 and 1912. American aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright are generally credited with inventing, building

Army Aviation, College Park Aviation Field, 2nd Season - Wright Biplane, Type B... 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Army Aviation, College Park Aviation Field, 2nd Season - Wright Biplane, Type B; Lt. Harry Graham, 1912. [Early test flights in Maryland. Lieutenant Graham flying Wright Brothers aircraft]

Army Aviation - College Park Aviation Field, 2nd Season - Lt. Harry Graham, 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Army Aviation - College Park Aviation Field, 2nd Season - Lt. Harry Graham, 1912. [Early test flights in Maryland. Lieutenant Graham flew Wright Brothers aircraft]

Army Aviation, College Park - Aviator 2nd Lt. Harry Graham, U.S.Army Inf. 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Army Aviation, College Park - Aviator 2nd Lt. Harry Graham, U.S.Army Infantry, 1912. [Early test flights in Maryland. Lieutenant Graham flew Wright Brothers aircraft]

Wright Flights - Spectators: George Von L. Meyer, Robert Bacon, Henry Cabot Lodge, 1909. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights - Spectators: George Von L. Meyer, Robert Bacon, Henry Cabot Lodge, 1909. [George von Lengerke Meyer, Secretary of Navy, 1909-1913; Robert Bacon, Secretary of State

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909. Spectators: Maj. G.O. Squier; Rep. Prince; Gen. Allen
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909. Spectators: Maj. G.O. Squier [Major General George Owen Squier]; Rep. Prince; Gen. Allen

Wright Brothers Flight, 1909. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Wright Brothers Flight, 1909. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Brothers Flight, 1909. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S. War Department offered them a $25

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909 - First Army Flights, 1909 July. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909 - First Army Flights, 1909 July. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909 - Spectators: Sen. Kean; Sen. Lodge; Sen. A.O. Bacon. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909 - Spectators: Sen. Kean; Sen. Lodge; Sen. A.O. [Augustus Octavius] Bacon. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909 - First Army Flights; Lt. Frank Lahm And Lt. Fonlois. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909. First Army Flights; Lt. Frank Lahm And Lt. Fonlois [sic], 1909 July. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S

Wright Flights - Bishop Milton Wright, Father of Wilbur And Orville Wright, Dayton, Ohio, 1909

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909 - First Army Flights; Wilbur And Orville Wright... Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909 - First Army Flights; Wilbur And Orville Wright, Charlie Taylor; Putting Plane On Launching Rail

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909 - First Army Flights; Hangar, Orville Wright, Right, 1909 July. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S

Wright Brothers Flight, 1909. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Wright Brothers Flight, 1909. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Brothers Flight, 1909. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S. War Department offered them a $25

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909 - Hangar, Wilbur Wright, Right, Showing His Objection To
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909 - First Army Flights; Hangar, Wilbur Wright, Right, Showing His Objection To Being Photographed

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909. Spectators: Mrs. Longworth; Sec. Knox... Sec. Nagle. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909. Spectators: Mrs. [Alice Lee Roosevelt] Longworth; Sec. Knox; Unidentified; Sec. Nagle

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909 - First Army Flights; View of Wright Plane, 1909 July
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909 - First Army Flights; View of Wright Plane, 1909 July. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S

Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Va, July 1909 - Spectators: Robert Bacon; Sec. of War Dickinson... Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights, Fort Myer, Virginia, July 1909 - Spectators: Robert Bacon; Sec. of War Dickinson; Sen. Elihu Root. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S

Wright Flights - Jean Jules Jusserand, Ambassador from France, 1909. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Wright Flights - Jean Jules Jusserand, Ambassador from France, 1909. [The Wright brothers conducted test flights at Fort Myer after the U.S

USA, North Carolina, Kill Devil Hills, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Wright Brothers Monument

Dedication Day - visitors to the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, May 20, 1943. From left to right: Colonel E.R. Page, William F

Aviation pioneers at a conference, Langley Field, Virginia, USA, May 23, 1934. Eight of the twelve members of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)

Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, USA. The Wright Brothers Monument is in the distance, and in the foreground is the First Flight Marker

Wright Flyer test flights at Fort Myer, Virginia, USA, September 3, 1908. In January 1908, as a response to a War Department request for a " Heavier-than-air Flying Machine"

First flight of Wright brothers aircraft, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA, December 17, 1903. The first powered, heavier-than-air controlled flight in history flight lasted 12 seconds

Orville Wright tests his glider at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA, 1911. Creator: NASA
Orville Wright tests his glider at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA, 1911. On October 24, 1911 Orville tested a new glider and broke all the previous gliding records by actually soaring

Wright Vertical 4, In-line 4 Engine, 1906. Creator: Wright Company
The Wright vertical four-cylinder engine was designed by Orville Wright in 1906. These engines, of which more were built than any other Wright Brothers engine model

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Orville Wright: Pioneering the Skies The Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, forever changed the course of history with their groundbreaking achievements in aviation. On that historic day, December 17th, 1903, they accomplished what was once thought impossible - the first heavier-than-air flight. This momentous event took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where Orville Wright fearlessly tested his glider. Fast forward to May 1st at Huffman Prairie in Dayton, Ohio - a significant milestone for the brothers as they showcased Flyer II. The determination and innovation displayed by Wilbur and Orville were truly awe-inspiring. Their dedication led them to conduct numerous glider tests at Kill Devil Hills in October 1902. The iconic side view of their revolutionary invention - the 1903 Flyer plane - captures its sleek design and showcases their ingenuity, and is no wonder that this remarkable aircraft propelled them into aviation history. Before conquering the skies, these visionary brothers had humble beginnings running a bicycle shop together in Dayton back in 1937. Little did anyone know then that they would go on to revolutionize air travel forever. Orville Wright's passion for flying continued beyond those early days as he piloted an early aeroplane on September 11th, 1908. His unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries made him an instrumental figure not only within aviation but also within American history itself. Today we can pay homage to these pioneers at the magnificent Wright Brothers National Memorial located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Visitors from around the world gather there on Dedication Day to celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments and witness firsthand how far we have come since those monumental flights over a century ago. Their legacy lives on through countless innovations inspired by their work; even visitors to the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory are reminded of their enduring impact on modern technology.