The Wright Brothers

The Wrights arrive in Kitty Hawk, NC.

Jul 10, 1901

In Kitty Hawk, they begin experimenting with a large glider. Flights ranged from twenty to almost 400 feet! http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

Wrights leave Kitty Hawk.

Aug 20, 1901

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

Wiber Wright and the Western Society of Engineers.

Sep 18, 1901

Wilbur addresses the Western Society of Engineers on the brothers' experiments. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

Conduct more flight tests.

Period: Oct 1, 1901 to Dec 31, 1901

The Wrights conduct more tests on airfoils and also build a wind tunnel to aid in their experiments. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

Back to Kitty Hawk

Aug 28, 1902

The Wrights set up a camp at Kitty Hawk. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

Wrights assemble new glider.

Period: Sep 8, 1902 to Sep 19, 1902

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

Practice glides

Period: Sep 19, 1902 to Oct 24, 1902

Wrights make glide between 700 and 1,000 times and wind up gliding a distance over 600 feet. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

Engines and propellers.

Dec 1, 1902

Begin conducting experiments with propellers and build four-cylinder engine. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighttime2.html

First flight.

Dec 17, 1903

First FlightWilbur and Orville make the first free, controlled, and sustained flights in a power-driven, heavier-than-air machine. Three men from the Kill Devil Life Saving Station and two from Nags Head witness the four trial flights. First trial is made by Orville at 10:35 A.M., stays twelve seconds in the air, and flies 120 feet. John T. Daniels photographs the first flight with Orville's camera. Wilbur makes the longest flight in the fourth trial, fifty-nine seconds in the air and 852 feet.