Powered Flight Collection

Wright Model A aircraft flight, 1909 C017 / 7837
Wright Model A aircraft flight, 1909. US aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) taking off in a Wright Model A, one of several aircraft built by him and his brother Orville Wright (1871-1948)

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

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

Langley Quarter-scale Aerodrome, 1903. Creator: Smithsonian Institution
Model of the unpiloted, tandem-wing experimental aircraft built and tested by Samuel P. Langley, powered by a five-cylinder radial internal combustion gasoline engine of about 3.2 horsepower

Langley Aerodrome Number 5, 1896. Creator: Smithsonian Institution
Model of the unpiloted, tandem-wing experimental aircraft built and tested by Samuel P. Langley. One one-horsepower, one-cylinder steam engine turning two pusher propellers via geared transmission

1909 Wright Military Flyer, 1909. Creator: Wright Brothers
Canard biplane with one 30-to-40-horsepower Wright vertical four-cylinder engine driving two pusher propellers via sprocket-and-chain transmission system. No wheels; skids for landing gear

Santos-Dumont making the first powered plane flight in Europe, Paris, 1906
Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873-1932) flying his 14-Bis aeroplane, powered by an Antoinette engine, in the Bois du Boulogne, Paris, in 1906

Wright Brothers biplane Flier, 1910
Wright Brothers biplane Flier, used fuel injection, Card published 1910

Wilbur and Orville Wright and the first powered flight, North Carolina, December 17 1903
Wilbur and Orville Wright and the first powered flight, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, December 17 1903. Photograph ACKNOWLEDGEMENT must be made to The Smithsonian Institution

Imaginary view of pterosaurs or pterodactyls. From The Universe or, The Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little, published 1882

Early Wright aircraft, circa 1908-11 C017 / 7836
Early Wright aircraft, circa 1908-11. The model seen here is one of the early powered aircraft built by US aviation pioneers the Wright brothers (Orville Wright, 1871-1948; Wilbur Wright, 1867-1912)

First solo transatlantic flight, 1927
First solo transatlantic flight. Computer artwork of the airplane Spirit of St Louis being flown in fog by Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) on the first solo transatlantic flight

Wright brothers, US aviation pioneers. Wilbur (1867-1912, right) and Orville (1871-1948, left) built and flew the first powered aircraft

Charles Renard, French engineer
Charles Renard (1847-1905), French military engineer and aviation pioneer. Renard began his work on aircraft after the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

Lindbergh with his airplane, 1928
Lindbergh with his airplane. US aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) on tour in 1928 with the airplane, Spirit of St Louis, in which he made the first solo transatlantic flight

Clement Ader, French engineer
Clement Ader (1841-1926), French engineer and aviation pioneer. Aders early career was spent inventing numerous electrical and mechanical devices

Louis Bleriot, French engineer
Louis Bleriot (1872-1936), French engineer, aviation pioneer and the first person to make a powered flight across the English Channel

Woelferts airship, 19th century
Woelferts airship, 19th-century photograph. This hydrogen-filled dirigible, designed by the German aviation pioneer Friedrich Hermann Woelfert (1850-1897), was named the Deutschland

Giffards steam airship, 1852

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"From Pterosaurs to Transatlantic Triumphs: A Journey through Powered Flight" Take a step back in time and witness the remarkable evolution of powered flight. It all began on that historic day, December 17, 1903, when the Wright brothers defied gravity with their Model A aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This groundbreaking moment marked the birth of a new era. But let's rewind even further to 1896 when Langley Aerodrome Number 5 took its first daring leap into the skies. The Smithsonian Institution played a crucial role in documenting these early milestones, capturing both Langley's quarter-scale aerodrome and his later creations. Fast forward to Paris in 1906, where Santos-Dumont etched his name into history by making Europe's first powered plane flight. With each courageous aviator pushing boundaries and unlocking new possibilities for human flight, progress soared higher than ever before. The Wright Brothers continued their pioneering spirit with their biplane Flier in 1910. These visionary siblings revolutionized aviation as we know it today. Their military flyer from 1909 showcased their dedication to innovation and propelled them towards greatness. As we marvel at these incredible achievements, let us not forget the imaginary view of pterosaurs or pterodactyls depicted in an illustration from "The Universe or The Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little. " Even our ancestors dreamed of taking flight long before it became reality. Circa 1908-11 witnessed the emergence of early Wright aircraft that paved the way for future advancements. Each iteration brought humanity closer to conquering the skies with grace and precision. Finally, we arrive at Charles Lindbergh's monumental solo transatlantic flight in 1927—a feat that captured hearts worldwide and solidified aviation as an integral part of our modern world. His courage inspired countless others to chase after dreams once thought impossible.