Text-Only Version
Below is a text only version of the brochure. This version is compatable with most screen reader software.
Overview: About this Audio-Described Brochure
Welcome to the audio-described version of Wright Brothers National Memorial’s official print brochure. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this version interprets the two-sided color brochure that Wright Brothers visitors receive. The brochure explores the history of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit. This audio version last 53 minutes long and is divided into 17 sections. Sections 1-2 provide background on the audio-described brochure and park. Sections 3-11 describe the front of the brochure through a mixture of images, descriptions and related texts. Sections 12-17 describe the back of the brochure through images, descriptions and related texts.
Overview: Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, is part of the National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior. The 428-acre park is situated on the Outer Banks, a chain of barrier islands along the Atlantic Coast. This park, established in 1927, is the site where Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first airplane flights in human history. Each year, more than 450,000 visitors come to enjoy the unique experiences that only can be had at Wright Brothers National Memorial. We invite you to explore this historic location where the dream of flight finally became a reality. Feel the wind on your face from the top of Big Kill Devil Hill, the same wind that brought Wilbur and Orville to the Outer Banks over 100 years ago. Listen to the sounds of planes taking off and landing at the First Flight Airstrip. For those seeking to learn more about the park during their visit, informative audio guides and tactile exhibits can be found at the visitor center. You can also download the NPS app to listen to free audio tours of the park grounds. To find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the Accessibility and More Information sections at the end of this audio-described brochure.
Overview: Front Side of Brochure
The front of the brochure includes a large banner photograph of the first flight, several smaller photos in black and white and in color, and a map of the park. The text describes how Wilbur and Orville became interested in the problem of flight, what it was like that historic day in 1903 when the dream of flight first became realized, and what happened afterward. There is also trip-planning information alongside the map.
Image: First Flight
Describing: A large, black-and-white photograph.
Synopsis: This is an image of the first flight. The Wright Flyer is shown in the moment of takeoff. The Flyer has taken off from a wooden rail. The plane flies away from the viewer. Orville is the pilot, lying face down on the bottom wing. Wilbur runs on the right side.
In-Depth Description: This is an image of the first flight from December 17, 1903. The Wright Flyer is shown in the moment of takeoff. The plane has taken off from a wooden rail. The plane flies away from the viewer. Orville is the pilot, lying face down on the bottom wing. Wilbur runs on the right side. They both wear suits and hats. The ground is all sand. The Wright Flyer is a biplane, with one wing set above the other. The top and bottom wings are connected with wooden rods and bracing wires that run between each wing. The wires crisscross between the wings, creating an X pattern. A wooden bench, a shovel, and a battery with wires sticking out of it are all in the foreground.
Credit: Smithsonian.
Images and Text: The Wrights of Dayton
This section has 2 images and introductory text.
Image 1 of 2. The Wright Cycle Company
Describing: small black and white historic photograph of a building.
Synopsis: The historic black-and-white photo depicts the storefront of the Wright Cycle Company in Dayton, Ohio. It is a two-story brick building. The first story has large front windows and a glass-fronted door. A smaller window is seen on the second story.
In-Depth Description: The historic black-and-white photo depicts the storefront of the Wright Cycle Company in Dayton, Ohio. The building is two stories tall and constructed of brick. On the first floor, there is a large front window facing the street, with a glass-front door to its right. Both the window and the door are outlined by white stone that frames all four sides. On the second floor, there is a larger double glass pane window, also outlined by the same white stonework as the bottom-floor windows. The stone arches over the window at the top. At the top of the building, decorative eaves made of white stone complete the structure. The building is connected to another identical one on its right, although the photo cuts off at the end, preventing the view of the full connection. Caption: The Wright Cycle Company occupied part of this building in Dayton, Ohio. Credit:. Wright State University.
Image 2 of 2. Two men facing away from camera, working.
Describing: small black and white photograph of two man working.
Synopsis: The historic black-and-white photograph shows Orville Wright on the right and his friend Ed Sines on the left, working in 1897. Both men are shown with their backs toward the camera. Both men are wearing suits and aprons and are working on something unseen. Tools and clamps are hanging from the wall in front of the man on the right.
In-Depth Description: The historic black-and-white photograph shows Orville Wright on the right and his friend Ed Sines on the left, working in 1897. Orville is standing slightly behind Ed, wearing dress shoes, black pants, a black vest, and a white shirt with a collar peeking out from under the vest. He has an apron tied around his waist, and his head is tilted downward, revealing the back of his head, which is full of hair. He is working at a waist height table covered with tools, and a shelf at head height holds more tools. To the left of Orville, closer to the camera, is Ed Sines. He is wearing gray pants, a jacket, and an apron tied at the waist. Ed also has a hat on his head, with some hair peeking out from underneath. His head is tilted down as he focuses on his work. Caption: where Orville (right) and friend Ed Sines are shown working in 1897. Credit:. Wright State University.
Related Text: [Text in small, black print] In the early 1890s the Wright brothers had settled into a respectable life as proprietors of a small business in Dayton, Ohio. But the Wright brothers nurtured a dream, which at the time was barely respectable: the possibility of human flight. Wilbur, four years older, was quiet and intense, a dreamer who could lose himself in books. Orville was outgoing, talkative, and an immaculate dresser. Both combined intuitive mechanical ability with analytical intelligence. In 1892 they opened a bicycle shop. While they prospered in their business, they were restless, especially Wilbur. Their energies focused on two events of 1896: the death of Otto Lilienthal, German glider experimenter, in a flying accident, and the successful unmanned powered model flights of Samuel Langley. The Wrights’ serious work in aeronautics began in 1899 when Wilbur wrote the Smithsonian Institution for literature. Dismayed that so many great minds had made so little progress, the brothers were exhilarated by the realization that they had as much chance as anyone of succeeding. Wilbur took the lead early on, but Orville was soon drawn in as an equal collaborator. They developed their own theories, and for the next four years devoted themselves to the goal of human flight.
Images and Text: Kill Devil Hills: We Take to the Air
This section has 4 images and introductory text.
Image 1 of 4: The Wright Brothers' Camp
Describing: A rectangular black and white photograph of a camp.
Synopsis: This image depicts the camp created by the Wright brothers. A canvas tent and a wooden building sit side by side on the open sands of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The ground is all sand. There are puddles of water around the tent and building.
In-Depth Description: This is a slightly blurred black-and-white photo of the camp the Wright brothers built in 1901. On the right side of the photo are the tent and hangar used by the brothers. On the left is a white canvas tent where the brothers slept. On the right is the hangar, where the brothers stored their machine. The hangar is made of wood, featuring a triangular-shaped roof and doors at the front that can be opened to access the interior. Both the tent and the hangar are set on sandy ground, which appears to stretch for miles. To the left of the photo, there are puddles of water. Caption: The Wrights learned to fly on open sands near the Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The site provided isolation, high dunes, strong winds, and soft landings.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Image 2 of 4: Inside the Camp Building
Describing: A small black and white photograph of the inside of the Wright brothers camp building.
Synopsis: The photo shows an interior view of a wooden building. In the back left of the photo, Wilbur holds a coffee pot. A wood-burning stove is next to him. On the right side of the photo the wood and cloth wing of a bi-wing glider rests on the ground.
In-Depth Description: A small black-and-white photo of the inside of the Wright brothers’ 1902 wooden building. On the left side of the photo, a man stands wearing a vest and a white collared shirt, along with a hat that has a brim extending from the front. He is looking down toward the wood-burning stove in front of him. Behind him, to the right of the photo, is a cluttered area filled with trunks for storage, tools, and clothing. To the far right of the photo, on the ground, is the bi-wing glider, made of wood and cloth.
Caption: At their 1902 camp the Wrights shared their living quarters with the glider. They slept aloft in burlap slings hung from rafters.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Image 3 of 4: Telegram of Success
Describing: A photograph of a telegram sent by the Wright Brothers to their family after the first successful flight.
Synopsis: This is an image of the telegram the Wright brothers sent to notify their family of the first flights. The document has a heading at the top and the message of the telegram below. The type is hard to make out in places, and several words are misspelled.
In-Depth Description. Photo of the yellowed aged telegram that was sent from Orville to Katharine after December 17, 1903, declaring their success at flight. Heading of the telegram reads: The Western Union Telegraph Company. Incorporated. 25,000 offices in America. Cable service to all the world. Text of the telegram reads: Kitty Hawk N. C. Dec 17. Bishop M Wright. 7 Hawthorne St. Success four flights Thursday morning all against twenty-one mile wind. Started from level with engine power alone. Average speed through air thirty-one miles. Longest 57 seconds. Inform press. Home Christmas. Orville Wright.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Image 4 of 4: Brothers Together
Describing: Black and white image of Orville and Wilbur Wright.
Synopsis: This is an image of Wilbur and Orville as they walk. They wear three-piece suits and bowler hats. Orville is on the left. He has a mustache, and a coat draped over his arm. Both men have serious expressions.
In-Depth Description: A black-and-white photograph of Wilbur and Orville Wright walking. Orville is on the left, with his left foot extended in front of him as he takes a step. He is wearing a three-piece suit, consisting of pants, a tie, and dress shoes. A long coat is draped over his right arm. Orville wears a bowler hat, with his hair peeking out from underneath, and he has a mustache. On the right is Wilbur, who stands a little taller than Orville. His left foot is also extended in front of him as he takes a step. Wilbur is dressed in a similar three-piece suit, with a tie at the collar and dress shoes. He is wearing a bowler hat and has a neutral expression on his face.
Credit: Wright State University.
Related Text. [Text in small, black print] The brothers dressed in coats and ties that December morning a touch of private ceremony for an event that would alter the world. The pools around their camp were icing up, and the break in the weather might be their last chance of the season. Words were impossible over the engine’s roar, so they shook hands, and Orville positioned himself in the flyer. On this remote, sandy beach, in 1903, Orville broke our human bond with Earth. He flew. It lasted only 12 seconds, and the distance of the flight was less than the length of an airliner. But for the first time, a manned, heavier-than-air machine left the ground by its own power, moved forward under control without losing speed, and landed on a point as high as that from which it started. Within the next two generations, people flew for routine travel, heard an aircraft break the sound barrier, and watched a man walk on the moon. The Wrights labored in relative obscurity, while the experiments of Samuel Langley of the Smithsonian Institution were followed in the press and underwritten by the US Department of War. Yet Langley, as others before him, had failed to achieve powered flight. They relied on brute power to keep their theoretically stable machines aloft, sending along a hapless passenger and hoping for the best. It was the Wrights’ genius to see that humans would have to fly their machines, that the problems of flight could not be solved from the ground. In Wilbur’s words, It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill. With Kill Devil Hill, the Wrights made themselves the first true pilots. These flying skills were a crucial component of their invention. Before they ever attempted powered flight, the Wright brothers were masters of the air.
Images and Text: Showing the World
This section has 3 images and introductory text.
Image 1 of 3: Soaring Over New York
Describing: A rectangular black and white photo.
Synopsis: A Wright biplane flies over the Hudson River. The plane has a canoe strapped to the bottom. Large boats and skyscrapers can be seen at the far side of the river in the distance.
In-Depth Description. This is an image of Wilbur piloting a Wright biplane over the Hudson River in New York. The flyer flies toward the right side of the photo. The flyer has a canoe attached to the bottom in case of an emergency landing. In the background, skyscrapers line the shore of the far side of the river. Boats float on the water.
Caption: In 1908 and 1909, the Wrights performed for awestruck crowds in America and Europe. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers cheered Wilbur’s 20-mile circuit from Governors Island up the Hudson to Grant’s Tomb and back (left).
Credit: Smithsonian Institute.
Image 2 of 3: Flying over France
Describing: A rectangular black and white photo.
Synopsis: This is an image of the 1908 Flyer soaring over Pau, France. Two horse-drawn carriages are in the foreground and one in the background. Several people are standing next to the horses, holding on to the reins. Overhead, two people are seated side by side flying in a biplane made of wood, wire, and cloth.
In-Depth Description. This is an image of the 1908 Flyer soaring over Pau, France. Two horse-drawn carriages are in the foreground and one in the background. Several people are standing next to the horses, holding on to the reins. The men wear suits and hats. Overhead, two people are seated side by side flying in a biplane made of wood, wire, and cloth.
Caption: At Pau, France (above), the 1908 Flyer soars over nervous horses.
Credit: Smithsonian Institute.
Image 3 of 3: Continued Innovation
Describing: A small black and white diagram.
Synopsis: This sketch shows a 1911 Wright Model B. The operator’s seat is at the rear of the craft with skids and wheels below it for landing gear. In front of the operator’s seat is a long, box-shape wing connected by bracing wires.
In-Depth Description. This is a sketch of the 1911 Wright Model B. It is a view from the side. The plane has an elevator in the front and a rudder in the back. It is a biplane design, with one wing set over the other. The plane has two seats, for the pilot and one passenger. At the bottom of the machine are skids and wheels for launching and landing.
Related Text. [Text in small, black print] "They have done it! Damned if they ain’t flew!" said a witness to the first human flight. But so often had this claim proven hollow that the public was skeptical of yet another, especially after the spectacular failure of Langley’s flying machine nine days earlier. The Wrights built an improved flyer and refined their flying skills over a field in Ohio, making 105 flights in 1904. In the 1905 Flyer, the first practical airplane, circling flights of up to 38 minutes became routine. But when the Wrights offered the Flyer to the US Army, that institution, dubious of their achievement, refused to meet with the brothers. Unwilling to show their control system without a contract in hand, the Wrights did not fly for another three years. The gap between the Wrights and European aviators remained substantial. After 1903, the French built flyers based on the Wright 1902 Glider. But by 1906 none had remained aloft for more than a few seconds. Not until 1907 did a European plane stay in the air as long as the Wrights had in 1903. But the Wrights’ refusal to fly caused even early believers to doubt their success. By 1908 a French pilot had flown for over 20 minutes. That year the Wrights signed contracts with the US Army and France and showed the world what they could do - Wilbur in France, Orville in America. After Wilbur flew a circle under good lateral control and landed gently, no one questioned that the Wrights had truly mastered flight. The French attempts were shaky, barely on the edge of control. Wilbur’s was effortless, graceful, decisive. In other flights he flew over two hours and reached an altitude of 360 feet, showing the Flyer’s reliability and endurance. We are as children compared with the Wrights, said one French pilot. By 1910 the rest of the world had caught up. The French refined the Wright design with monoplane wings, closed body, front propeller, rear elevator, single stick control, wheels, and ailerons. But the principle behind the Wrights’ control system was unchanged. A 1911 Wright Model B (below) reflecting some of these changes is the prototype for planes today.
Images and Text: Planning Your Visit
This section has 5 images and introductory text.
Image 1 of 5: First Flight Boulder
Describing: A small color photo
Synopsis: This is a photo of the First Flight Boulder. The photo shows a large gray boulder with a bronze plaque attached to the center. The text on the plaque is not readable.
In-Depth Description: This is a photo of the First Flight Boulder. This is a granite boulder that marks where the Wright Flyer left the ground on December 17, 1903. A with a bronze plaque is attached to the center. The text of the plaque is not readable. In the background, green grass leads to a row of dark green trees.
Caption: First Flight Boulder.
Credit: NPS.
Image 2 of 5: Wright Brothers' Monument
Describing: A small color photo.
Synopsis: This is a photo of the Wright Brothers Monument. The front of the monument has Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright carved approximately one third of the way up. Two people are standing on the left side of the monument, dwarfed by its size.
In-Depth Description: This is a photo of the Wright Brothers Monument. The front of the monument has Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright carved approximately one third of the way up. Below this inscription are a set of doors that lead to the inside of the monument. The monument sits atop a granite platform. In front of the monument, bronze busts of Orville and Wilbur each rest on a column on either side of a staircase. Two people are standing on the left side of the monument, dwarfed by its size.
CAPTION: Wright Brothers Monument.
CREDIT: Copyright Kelly Culpepper.
Image 3 of 5: Wright Brother's Hangar
Describing: A rectangular, in-color photo.
Synopsis: This is an image of the reconstructed 1903 Hangar and Quarters the Wright brothers used while in North Carolina. The two wooden buildings are next to a sidewalk. The building on the left is the hangar. The building on the right is where the brothers lived and worked.
In-depth Description. This is an image of the reconstructed 1903 Hangar and Quarters the Wright brothers used while in North Carolina. The two wooden buildings are next to a sidewalk. The building on the left is the hangar. It is completely open at the front with a wooden canopy extending out over the sidewalk. The building on the right is where the brothers lived and worked. Its front door that is half-way open. Above the door is a window. A wayside sign stands in between the buildings.
Caption: Reconstructed 1903 Hangar and Quarters/Workshop.
Credit: NPS.
Image 4 of 5: Sculpture of the Brothers
Describing: A rectangular color photo.
Synopsis: This is a photo of the December 17, 1903 sculpture. It is a bronze sculpture of the witnesses of the first flight. The grass-covered Kill Devil Hill and the Wright Brothers Monument are in the background.
In-depth description. This is a photo of the December 17, 1903 sculpture. The sculpture depicts the scene of the first flight, with Wilbur, Orville, and five witnesses. The Wright Flyer is on the left. Orville lies on the plane while Wilbur chases after it with is arm outstretched. A small group of figures is behind the plane; one has his arms raised. Another figure is in the far right of the photo and is bending over a camera on a tripod. The sculpture is in an oval of sand that is surrounded by green grass. In the background, the Wright Brothers Monument sits atop Big Kill Devil Hill.
Caption: December 17, 1903 sculpture.
Credit: NPS
Image 5 of 5: Flight Paths
Describing: A black and white drawing that extends the width of the brochure.
Synopsis: This diagram shows the flight paths of the first four flights on December 17, 1903. There are four dotted lines that represent each flight. At the end of each line is a time, a distance, and a number 1 through 4.
In-Depth Description. This diagram shows the flight paths of the first four flights on December 17, 1903. On the far left of the drawing is the Wright Flyer. Four dotted lines extend to the right, representing the length of each flight. A short, wavy dotted line ends at the number 1, which reads 12 seconds, 120 feet. The second, wavy dotted line is just a little longer and ends at the number 2, which reads 12 seconds, 175 feet. The third wavy, dotted line is a little further still and ends at the number 3, which reads 15 seconds, 200 feet. The fourth, wavy dotted line is much longer and extends the whole width of the page. It ends at another simple line drawing of the same plane and the number 4, which reads 59 seconds, 852 feet.
Caption: The First Four Flights.
Related text: [Text in small, black print] Visitor Center.
Start here for information, exhibits, and a bookstore. Exhibits and programs tell the Wright brothers’ story. Also see a full-scale reproduction of the 1903 Flyer. Open daily except December 25.
Anniversary Celebration
Every year on December 17, we continue the tradition of honoring Wilbur and Orville Wright at the celebration of the first heavier-than-air powered flight.
For Your Safety
Your safety is your responsibility. Stay on paths to help protect Kill Devil Hill and to avoid sand spurs and prickly pear cacti. Warning: Kill Devil Hill is very exposed to lightning. Bicycles may use established roads only, not paths. Skateboards are prohibited.
First Flight Airstrip
A 3,000 foot, paved airstrip serves small planes. Parking at the limited tie down area is restricted to 24 consecutive hours or 48 total hours in any 30-day period. Pilots staying longer may tie down at Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo, NC. gas and rental cars available.
Touring the Park
First Flight Boulder and First Flight Markers. A granite boulder marks where the first plane left the ground on December 17, 1903. Smaller stone markers chart the four flights’ paths, distances, and landings. Wright Brothers Monument. The 60 foot monument atop Kill Devil Hill honors the Wright brothers and marks the site of the hundreds of glider flights that preceded the first powered flight. Grass stabilizes the 90 foot sand dune. The reconstructed 1903 Hangar (far left) depicts the hangar used for the 1903 Flyer. A reconstruction of the Quarters/Workshop (near left) is furnished with items like those the Wrights used. A sculpture (left) recreates the historic 1903 flight. Fabricated of bronze and stainless steel, this life-sized flyer weighs 10,000 pounds.
Accessibility:
We strive to make our facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check our website.
Driving Directions:
The national memorial is on North Carolina’s Outer Banks at Kill Devil Hills (the town), on US 158, between mileposts 7 and 8.
More Information:
Outer Banks Group, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954. 252-473-2111. www.nps.gov/wrbr
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The Wright Brothers National Memorial is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. Learn about national parks at www.nps.gov.
Map of the Park
Describing: A map of Wright Brothers National Memorial.
Synopsis: The map of Wright Brothers National Memorial shows notable features within the park boundary as well as the surrounding area. The map is oriented with north at the top. The park entrance is accessed by North Croatan Highway, between mileposts 7 and 8. The entrance station is on the road leading into the park. The road then leads to the visitor parking. The parking lot leads to the Visitor Center. The Reconstructed 1903 Hangar and Quarters/Workshop as well as the First Flight Markers are accessible via a walkway from the visitor center. The Wright Brothers Monument is accessible via a walkway from the visitor center, or a road from the parking lot. The road goes around the base of Kill Devil Hill. There are five parking areas around the base of the hill. To the west of the hill is the First Flight Airstrip, picnic tables, and Pilot’s booth. On the south side of the hill is the December 17, 1903 Sculpture.
In-Depth Description: The map of Wright Brothers National Memorial shows notable features within the park boundary as well as the surrounding area. The map is oriented with north at the top. Two roads run parallel to each other to the east of the park. The two roads are connected by Prospect Avenue. North Virginia Dare Trail is the road farthest to the east. This road runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean. To the west of this is North Croatan Highway. The map indicates that Kitty Hawk is to the north, while Nags Head, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site are to the south. Colington Road runs along the southern boundary of the park. The park entrance is located on the east side and is accessed by North Croatan Highway, between mileposts 7 and 8. The entrance station is on the road leading into the park. The road then leads to the visitor parking lot. The parking lot is located in front of the Visitor Center. From the Visitor Center going southwest, a walkway leads to the Reconstructed 1903 Hangar and Quarters/Workshop, the First Flight Boulder, and the Flight Markers. These features are all at the north end of the park. The walking path continues south from the First Flight Boulder for a quarter of a mile to the base of big Kill Devil Hill. At the base of the hill the walkway splits into various paths that lead up to the top of the hill where the Wright Brothers Monument sits. Running around the base of the hill is a road that leads from the main parking lot with 5 accessible parking areas. At the back of Big Kill Devil Hill across the road to the south is the December 17, 1903, Sculpture. On the west side of the map, the First Flight Airstrip runs from the southwest to northeast. At the southern end of the Airstrip sits the Pilot’s booth and picnic area. The pilot’s booth and picnic area can be accessed from the road that runs around the base of Kill Devil Hill and by the walking path the leads from the first flight boulder. There is a parking lot for the Airstrip that can be accessed from the south off of Colington Road.
Overview: Back Side of Brochure
The title of the back side of the brochure is Solving the Problem of Flights, and it is divided into three main sections. The first section has a diagram of a modern airplane and text describing the principles of flight. The second section has portraits and brief biographies of early aviation pioneers. The third and largest section is a timeline of the Wright brothers’ experiments with flight from a kite in 1899 through their successful powered flight in 1903.
Images and Text: Principles of Flight
This section has 1 image and introductory text.
Describing: A color diagram showing the principles of flight.
Synopsis: This is a diagram of an airplane displaying the basic principles of flight. In the left half of the drawing, there is a white airplane outlined in black. To the right of the large airplane, there are three smaller airplanes labeled Pitch, Roll, and Yaw with arrows indicating direction of movement. On the far right, there is a drawing of a propeller. One arrow is pointing forward from the center of the propeller and one arrow is pointing up from the edge of the propeller. This smaller drawing is labeled Thrust.
In-Depth Description: This is a diagram of an airplane displaying the basic principles of flight. In the left half of the drawing, there is a white airplane outlined in black. The airplane has arrows to show the principles of flight at work as the plane flies. Drawings of air currents show how air moves over and under the plane’s wings. To the right of the large airplane, there are three smaller airplanes labeled Pitch, Roll, and Yaw with arrows indicating direction of movement. The first small drawing is labeled Pitch. It has arrows arching over the top of the plane and underneath from back to front. The second airplane is labeled Roll. It has arrows arching from wing to wing. The third small drawing is labeled Yaw. It has arrows from the left wing to the nose and the right wing to the tail. On the far right, there is a drawing of a propeller with one arrow pointing forward from center of the propeller and one pointing up from the edge of the propeller, indicating the propeller is spinning. This drawing is labeled Thrust.
Credit: NPS, Richard Schlecht.
Related Text. [Text in small, black print]. Any aircraft design has to solve three critical problems: lift -- generating an upward force greater than the weight of the plane; thrust -- propelling the plane forward; and control -- stabilizing and directing the plane’s flight. Any number of approaches can achieve these results, but natural selection eliminated early designs that failed to meet the requirements of efficiency, reliability, and durability. The design rapidly evolved into the familiar, basic configuration that virtually all airplanes share. Lift. Air passing over the upper surface of a wing (A) has a greater change in velocity (speed and direction), making the air pressure drop relative to the pressure under the wing. Upward lift (B) is created. The degree of curvature of the upper surface and the ratio of the wingspan to its chord (distance from the front to the back of the wing) (C) affect the lift. The angle of attack, the angle at which a wing meets the air (D), also affects lift. The greater the angle, the greater the lift -- up to a point. Past a certain angle, the smooth flow of air over the wing becomes turbulent (E) and stalling occurs. That is, lift is lost. At higher speeds, less angle is needed to generate the same amount of lift. Control. A wing is inherently unstable fore-and-aft, because lift (B) is greatest behind the center of gravity (F), making the wing rotate around that point. The nose pitches down, the tail comes up. To counteract this, the horizontal stabilizer (G) acts as an inverted wing, creating negative lift to hold the tail down. The plane’s lateral stability is affected by the amount of dihedral (H), the deflection from the horizontal built into the wings. Movable control surfaces produce the three aircraft movements needed to maintain control and change direction. The elevator (I) produces pitch (the up-and-down movement of the nose), for longitudinal control. Ailerons (J) produce roll (rotation of the wings) for lateral control. The rudder (K) produces yaw (right and left movement), for directional control. In combination, these movements turn the aircraft. Thrust. Just as airflow over the wings generates lift, airflow over the rapidly turning blades of a propeller-driven plane produces the thrust, or forward motion. Each blade of the propeller acts as a small airfoil, or wing. As the blade rotates, the air flows over its curved surface. The resulting horizontal lift propels the aircraft forward. Because the velocity of the blade increases from hub to tip, the blade is twisted, providing the most efficient angle of attack at each point along its length.
Images and Text: Predecessors
This section has 8 images in pairs with related text.
Image 1 of 8: George Cayley
Describing: a small color portrait painting.
Synopsis: This image is a portrait of a man named George Cayley from the shoulders up. He has short, thin, white hair and sideburns and wears a black coat with a red lapel. The man is looking at the viewer.
In-Depth Description: This image is a portrait of a man named George Cayley from the shoulders up. He has short, thin, white hair and sideburns. He wears a black coat with a dark red lapel. The man is looking at the viewer.
Credit: National Portrait Gallery, London.
Image 2 of 8: George Cayley's Glider
Describing: a small black and white sketch.
Synopsis: This is a sketch of an early aircraft design. A wing is shown atop a flat base. Attached on the right is a kite shaped object.
In-Depth Description: This is a sketch of an early aircraft design. A wing is shown atop a flat base. Attached on the right is a kite shaped object.
Credit: Smithsonian Institution.
Related Text. George Cayley, 1773 to 1857, was the father of aerodynamics. His 1804 glider model incorporated most design elements of a modern airplane.
Image 3 of 8: Alphonse Penaud
Describing: a small black and white photo.
Synopsis: A black and white portrait shows a man named Alphonse Penaud in profile from the shoulders up. He is wearing a suit and has close cropped hair and a beard.
In-Depth Description. A black and white portrait shows a man named Alphonse Penaud from the shoulders up. He is looking to the left of the photo. He is wearing a suit and tie. He has close cropped hair and a beard.
Credit: Musee de l’Air et de l’Espace.
Image 4 of 8: Lilienthal's Glider
Describing: a small black and white sketch.
Synopsis: This is a sketch of an early aircraft design. It shows a long rod with wings extending from the middle. Two smaller wings extend from the end of the rod.
In-Depth Description. This is a sketch of an early aircraft design. It shows a long rod with wings extending from the middle. Two smaller wings extend from the end of the rod.
Credit: Smithsonian Institution.
Related Text. Alphonse Penaud, 1850 to 1880, build a rubber band powered planophore model. Its 131 foot flight was the first of an inherently stable aircraft.
Image 5 of 8: Otto Lilienthal Portrait
Describing: a small black and white photo.
Synopsis: This image is a portrait of a man named Otto Lilienthal. He is facing the viewer but looking off to the right. He is shown from the shoulders up, and he is wearing a suit. He has a full beard.
In-Depth Desciption: This image is a portrait of a man named Otto Lilienthal. He is facing the viewer but looking off to the right. He is shown from the shoulders up, and he is wearing a suit. He has a full beard. His hair is wavy.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Image 6 of 8: Otto Lilienthal Glider
Describing: a silhouetted black and white photo.
Synopsis: Otto Lilienthal is flying on a glider with his feet dangling below. The glider’s wings have wooden ribs and are outstretched. They resemble a bat’s wings.
In-Depth Description This is an image of Otto Lilienthal in flight with his glider. The wings resemble those of a bat. Wooden rods create rib-like features on the wings. The pilot’s legs dangle below the wings.
Credit: Smithsonian Institution.
Related Text: Otto Lilienthal, 1848 to 1896, was the first true glider pilot. The Wrights were inspired to take up his quest to get on intimate terms with the wind.
Image 7 of 8: Octave Chanute Portrait:
Describing: a small black and white photo.
Synopsis: This image is a portrait of a man named Octave Chanute. He has wispy white hair. Just below his lips is a narrow, pointed beard. He is shown from the shoulders up. He is wearing a suit and looking at the viewer.
In-Depth Description: This image is a portrait of a man named Octave Chanute. He has wispy white hair on the sides of his head. Just below his lips is a narrow, pointed beard. He is shown from the shoulders up. He is wearing a suit and tie. He is looking at the viewer.
CREDIT: Smithsonian Institution.
Image 8 of 8: Octave Chanute Glider
Describing: a small black and white photo.
Synopsis: This image shows Octave Chanute’s glider in flight. The pilot hangs from the lower wing of a biplane glider. The wings are parallel and attached to a tail section. The man is holding onto the glider and has his legs bent as he flies through the air. Another man watches from a hill in the background.
In-Depth Description: This image shows Octave Chanute’s glider in flight. The glider flies toward the viewer over a sand dune. The glider has a bi-wing design, with one wing set over the other. The rudder extends from the back of the glider. The pilot hangs from the lower wing, grabbing wires in each hand. His legs are bent as if in a seated position. Another man watches from a hill in the background.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Related Text: [Text in small, black print] Octave Chanute, 1832 to 1910, gathered and disseminated aeronautical knowledge. He encouraged the Wrights, who used his biplane glider design.
Images and Text: The Wrights: Method and Inspiration
This section is set up as a timeline with 6 images and related text.
Image 1 of 6. 1899
Describing: a small composite image of two black and white portraits and two small color sketches.
Synopsis: Wilbur and Orville are shown next to each other in profile. Both are wearing suits and have serious expressions. Next to the young men are a sketch of a bird in flight and a sketch of a rectangular box that is twisted. Arrows on both ends of the box indicate that the ends are being twisted in opposite directions.
In-Depth Description: Wilbur and Orville are shown next to each other in profile. Wilbur is on the left. His hairline starts at the top of his head. On the right, Orville has curly hair. Both are wearing suits and have serious expressions. Next to the young men is a sketch of a bird in flight. Below that is a sketch of a rectangular box. Arrows indicate that both ends of the box are being twisted in opposite directions.
Caption: Experiments in wing warping.
Credit: Portraits montage: Wright State University, Bird Illustration: NPS/Richard Schlecht.
Related Text: [Text in small, black print] The Wrights knew that the solutions to lift and propulsion needed refining, but no one had achieved lateral control. Rejecting the principle of inherent stability, the conventional wisdom, they wanted control to depend on the pilot. Sparked by watching birds and by idly twisting a box, Wilbur hit upon the idea of warping the wings, to rotate the wings and stabilize flight. They tested wing warping, the forerunner of ailerons, on a five foot biplane kite.
Image 2 of 6: 1900
Describing: a small black and white photo.
Synopsis: This image shows one of the Wright brothers’ gliders being flown as a kite. The glider has a bi-wing design and is flying from a tether.
In-Depth Description. This image shows one of the Wright brothers’ gliders being flown as a kite. The glider has a bi-wing design, with one wing set over the other. The top and bottom wings are connected with wooden rods and bracing wires. In the front of the glider, two rods extend to form a triangle. This is the elevator. Two strings extend downward from the glider, indicating that it is being flown as a kite.
Caption: Glider flown like a kite.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Related Text: [Text in small, black print] Confident their design was sound, the Wrights built a 17 foot glider with an unusual forward elevator. They went to Kitty Hawk hoping to gain flying experience, but the wings generated less lift than expected, and they flew the glider mostly as a kite, working the control surfaces from the ground. Wilbur’s total time aloft in free flight was only 10 seconds. They would go home somewhat discouraged, but convinced they had achieved lateral and longitudinal control.
Image 3 of 6: 1901
Describing: a small black and white photo.
Synopsis: Wilbur is lying face downon a glider made of cloth and wood. The glider is airborne. His head and shoulders hang off the front of the as he grips the front part of the aircraft.
In-Depth Description. This image shows Wilbur in flight on the 1901 glider. He lies in the middle of the glider, with his chest, arms, and head hanging off the front of it. His hands grip the levers that control the elevator. He wears a hat, a white dress shirt, dark dress pants, and a tie. The glider has a bi-wing design, with one wing set over the other. The wings are covered in a light fabric. The wings are connected with wooden rods and bracing wires.
Caption: Increased camber and wingspan.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Image 4 of 6: Wind Tunnel
Describing: a composite of two black and white photos.
Synopsis: A wooden wind tunnel has a metal fan on one end to provide airflow. A photo of a journal excerpt is shown next to the wind tunnel that has handwritten notes and drawings from the wind tunnel experiments.
In-Depth Description. This image shows a wind tunnel made out of wood. The wind tunnel is a rectangle shape. On the right end of the wooden rectangle, a cylindrical metal fan provides airflow. Below the wind tunnel is an excerpt from a journal where the brothers recorded the results from their experiments. The handwriting is in cursive.
Caption: Wind tunnel
Credit: Library of Congress
Related Text: This was the year the Wrights sharpened their focus. Trying to overcome the lift problem, they increased the camber of the 1901 Glider. They also lengthened its wingspan to 22 feet, making it the largest glider anyone had attempted to fly. But at their new Kill Devil Hills camp, lift was still only a third of that predicted by the Lilienthal data upon which the wing design was based. The glider pitched wildly, climbing into stalls. When they returned to the earlier camber, they achieved longitudinal control and eventually glided 335 feet. But the machine was still unpredictable. When the pilot raised the left wing to initiate the expected right turn, the machine instead tended to slip to the left (adverse yaw). This failure, and the realization that their work had relied on false data, brought them to the point of quitting. Instead they built a wind tunnel and produced their own data.
Image 5 of 6: 1902
Describing: a rectangular black and white photo.
Synopsis: Two men run down a sandy hill holding the 1902 glider aloft. Orville is piloting the glider by lying face down in the middle of it. A fourth man is watching in the distance.
In-Depth Description. This image shows the 1902 Glider taking off from the top of a sand dune. The glider has a bi-wing design, with one wing set over the other. The wings are connected with wooden rods and bracing wires. Orville is the pilot, lying on his stomach in the middle of the glider. Two men are on either side of the wings assisting with take-off. They each grab one of the wooden rods with their hands. Wilbur is on the left side of the glider; Dan Tate is on the right. The men have one foot forward. On the far left of the photo, a man named Augustus M. Herring runs toward the glider.
Caption: Improved glider embodies research.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Image 6 of 6: The First Working Airplane
Describing: a small black and white photo.
Synopsis: Wilbur pilots the 1902 glider above a sand dune. He is lying face down on the bottom wing of the bi-wing glider with his head raised.
In-Depth Description: This image shows the 1902 Glider in flight. The glider has a bi-wing design, with one wing set over the other. The wings are connected with wooden rods and bracing wires. The glider flies toward the right side of the photo. Wilbur lies on the bottom wing of the glider with his head raised.
Caption: The first working airplane.
Credit: Library of Congress.
Related Text: The 1902 Glider embodied the Wrights’ research. They gave it 32 foot wings and added vertical tails to counteract adverse yaw. The pilot moved a hip cradle to warp the wings. Some 400 glides proved the design was workable, but it was still flawed. Sometimes, when the pilot tried to raise the lowered wing for coming out of a turn, the machine instead slid sideways toward the wing and spun into the ground. Orville suggested a movable tail to counteract this tendency. After Wilbur thought to link the tail movement to the warping mechanism, the glider could be turned and stabilized smoothly. If others had thought about steering at all, it was by rudder, a marine analogy that did not work in the air. The Wrights saw that control and stability were related and that a plane turned by rolling. Six hundred more glides that year satisfied them that they had the first working airplane.
Image and Text: 1903
This section has 3 images and introductory text.
Image 1 of 3. Labelled Drawing of Flyer
Describing: A large color illustration of the 1903 Wright Flyer.
Synopsis: This is an illustration in color of the first flight. Parts of the 1903 Wright Flyer are labeled with arrows showing the direction of all the movements of control. The flyer is taking off from a rail the brothers built in the sand. The parts of the flyer include the wings, the rudder, the engine, the propellers, and the elevator. Orville Wright is lying on his stomach in the middle the flyer. Wilbur Wright stands to the left of the flyer. They are both wearing dark blue suits and hats.
In-depth description: This is an illustration in color of the first flight. Parts of the 1903 Wright Flyer are labeled with arrows showing the direction of all the movements of control. The flyer is taking off from a starting rail the brothers built in the sand. The flyer rode along the rail on a T shaped dolly. The flyer is moving against the wind towards the viewer. Wilbur Wright stands to the left of the flyer. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a vest, tie, and hat. His head is turned to the right so that he is looking at the flyer. His left foot is forward and his right arm is bent in a running motion. The Wright Flyer is a biplane, with one wing set above the other. The top and bottom wings are connected with wooden rods and bracing wires that run between each wing. The wires crisscross between the wings, creating an X pattern. Additional wing warping wires, which control roll, are connected to the hip cradle that situated in the middle of the flyer. These wires join to the tips of the wings. The wings are a pale yellow sand color. Within part of the top left wing, there is a transparent section that showcases the rib like wooden structures inside the wing. At the back of the flyer is the rudder, which sits vertically and is made from the same material as the wings. It is connected to the main body of the flyer with wooden pieces and wires, which are also interconnected with the wing warping wires. The rudder moves side to side to control yaw. On either side of the rudder are the propellers, which are connected to the main body of the flyer with metal rods. The left propeller turns counterclockwise, while the right propeller turns clockwise. The propellers are powered by the engine, which rests slightly to the left of center on the bottom wing, next to Orville Wright. The engine connects to the propellers through drive chains that resemble bicycle chains. The engine the Wright brothers designed generated almost 12 horsepower and weighed 180 pounds. Orville Wright is lying on his stomach in the middle of the plane. He has a mustache and is wearing a navy blue suit with a matching hat. He is lying in the hip cradle, which the pilot shifts side to side to control both the wing warping and the rudder. On the left side of the pilot, extending vertically from wing to wing, is the radiator. The radiator is connected to a wooden support rod, along with a stopwatch and wind vane to measure wind speeds. The stopwatch and wind vane are positioned at eye level. On the right side of the pilot, extending vertically from wing to wing, is the gas tank. The gas tank is connected to one of the wooden rods that supports the wings. Extending from the front of the flyer is the elevator. It lies horizontally and is made of the same materials as the wings. The elevator is controlled by a lever, which the pilot moves up and down to control pitch.
CREDIT: NPS, Richard Schlecht
Image 2 of 3: Airplane
Describing: A small black and white photograph of the Wright Flyer in flight.
Synopsis: This horizontal photograph of the Wright Flyer in flight on December 17, 1903, taken at Kitty Hawk, captures the Flyer during its third flight of the day. It shows the aircraft flying away from the camera, showcasing its rudder, wings, and elevator, with Orville piloting the Flyer and the engine visible.
In-Depth Description. This horizontal photograph captures the Wright Flyer in flight on December 17, 1903. The Flyer stretches across the entire image, with the left tips of the wings cut off at the edge of the photo. It is flying away from the viewer. The Flyer dips down to the right, nearly touching the sandy ground. The rudder stands vertically at the back of the Flyer, constructed from 2 white pieces of muslin material and wooden pieces that connect it to the main body of the flyer. The main body of the flyer is made of its two-biplane wing stacked on top of each other. The top and bottom wings are connected by wooden support rods and metal bracing wires that run the length of the wings. Laying left of center on the bottom wing is Orville Wright, positioned on his stomach and facing away from the camera. To the right of Orville is the engine of the flyer. The engine connects to two rear propellers by drive chains that extend upwards to the right and left. Through the support rods on the wings, the elevator, made of two horizontal pieces of white muslin, is visible protruding from the front of the Flyer. It sits in front of Orville and the engine. The Flyer casts a shadow beneath it, stretching across the sandy ground that seems to extend for miles toward the horizon.
Credit: Smithsonian Institution:
Image 3 of 3. Propeller
Describing: Small black and white photograph of the Wright Brothers propeller.
Synopsis: One propeller is shown on its side. The spruce wood is twisted outward from the center, causing the ends on the left and right to angle in opposite directions.
In-depth description. This black and white photograph shows one of the spruce propellers from the Wright Flyer. The propeller lies horizontally, with the blades twisting outward from the center, causing the ends on the left and right to angle in opposite directions. This gives the propeller the appearance of a horizontally laid figure eight.
Caption: Propellers: The Wrights dismissed the idea of a propeller as an air screw, seeing it instead as a rotary wing.
Credit: Smithsonian Institution
Related Text: [Small back text in the upper left corner of the image.]
1903:
Now the Wrights had to power their aircraft. Gasoline engine technology had recently advanced to where its use in airplanes was feasible. Unable to find a suitable lightweight commercial engine, the brothers designed their own. It was cruder and less powerful than Samuel Langley’s, but the Wrights understood that relatively little power was needed with efficient lifting surfaces and propellers. Such propellers were not available, however. Scant relevant data could be derived from marine propeller theory. Using their air tunnel data, they designed the first effective airplane propeller, one of their most original and purely scientific achievements. Returning to Kill Devil Hills, they mounted the engine on the new 40 foot, 605 pound flyer with double tails and elevators. The engine drove two pusher propellers with chains, one crossed to make the props rotate in opposite directions to counteract a twisting tendency in flight. A balky engine and broken propeller shafts slowed them, until they were finally ready on December 14. Wilbur won the coin toss but lost his chance to be the first to fly when he oversteered with the elevator after leaving the launching rail. The flyer climbed too steeply, stalled, and drove into the sand. The first flight would have to wait for repairs.
December 17, 1903:
Three days later, they were ready for the second attempt. The 27 mph wind was harder than they would have liked, since their predicted cruising speed was only 30 to 35 mph. The headwind would slow their groundspeed to a crawl, but they proceeded anyway. With a sheet they signaled the volunteers from the nearby lifesaving station that they were about to try again. Now It was Orvilles turn.Remembering Wilbur’s experience, he positioned himself and tested the controls. The stick that moved the horizontal elevator-controlled climb and descent. The cradle that he swung with his hips warped the wings and swung the vertical tails, which in combination turned the machine. A lever controlled the gas flow and airspeed recorder. The controls were simple and few, but Orville knew it would take all his finesse to handle the new and heavier aircraft.At 10:35 he released the restraining wire. The flyer moved down the rail as Wilbur steadied the wings. As Orville left the ground, John Daniels from the lifesaving station snapped the shutter on a preset camera, capturing the historic image of the airborne aircraft with Wilbur running alongside. Again, the flyer was unruly, pitching up and down as Orville overcompensated with the controls. But he kept it aloft until it hit the sand about 120 feet from the rail. Into the 27 mph wind the groundspeed had been 6. 8 mph, for a total airspeed of 34 mph. The brothers took turns flying three more times that day, getting a feel for the controls and increasing their distance with each flight. Wilbur’s second flight, the fourth and last of the day, was impressive: 852 feet in 59 seconds. This was the real thing, transcending the powered hops and glides others had achieved. The Wright machine had flown. But it would not fly again; after the last flight it was caught by a gust of wind, rolled over, and damaged beyond easy repair. Their flying season over, the Wrights sent their father a matter-of-fact telegram reporting the modest numbers behind their epochal achievement.
