Last updated: August 3, 2021
Place
6 - First Flights: December 17, 1903
NPS
WAYSIDE TITLE: First Flights: December 17, 1903.
WAYSIDE LAYOUT: Landscape-oriented rectangular panel featuring a black band across the top. The black band has text that reads, “Wright Brothers National Memorial” and “National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.” The panel has a large black and white photograph in the background. The bottom section of the panel features text and a graphic depiction of the distances for the first four flights.
VIEW FROM WAYSIDE: The view behind the wayside looks down the length of the first flight line, with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th flight boulders within sight. Looking to the left, about 20 feet away is the first flight boulder. Directly to the right is the side of the reconstructed wooden hangar building.
DESCRIPTION: Black and white photograph of the first flight. The 1903 flyer is taking off from the launching rail with Orville on board as the pilot. Wilbur is on the right side of the flyer, close to the wing as it takes off. Tools and a small bench are seen in the foreground.
CAPTION: The first flight: Wilbur watches as Orville takes flight.
TEXT: First Flights: December 17, 1903. On this cold and windy morning, the Wrights achieved the world’s first controlled flights. Here, they realized not only own dream – but also one of humanity’s oldest dreams – to fly!The boulder and numbered markers on the field in front of you mark the takeoff and landing spots of those four flights.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION: The First Four Flights. Each flight and its path are shown with different types of lines. The path for the first flight is small dots and shows the flight lasting 12 seconds and traveling 120 feet. The path for the second flight is a small dashed line showing the flight lasting 12 seconds and traveling 175 feet. The third flight path is a longer dashed line showing the flight lasting 15 seconds and traveling 200 feet. The fourth flight path is a heavier, longer dashed line showing the flight lasting 59 seconds and traveling 852 feet.
WAYSIDE LAYOUT: Landscape-oriented rectangular panel featuring a black band across the top. The black band has text that reads, “Wright Brothers National Memorial” and “National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.” The panel has a large black and white photograph in the background. The bottom section of the panel features text and a graphic depiction of the distances for the first four flights.
VIEW FROM WAYSIDE: The view behind the wayside looks down the length of the first flight line, with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th flight boulders within sight. Looking to the left, about 20 feet away is the first flight boulder. Directly to the right is the side of the reconstructed wooden hangar building.
DESCRIPTION: Black and white photograph of the first flight. The 1903 flyer is taking off from the launching rail with Orville on board as the pilot. Wilbur is on the right side of the flyer, close to the wing as it takes off. Tools and a small bench are seen in the foreground.
CAPTION: The first flight: Wilbur watches as Orville takes flight.
TEXT: First Flights: December 17, 1903. On this cold and windy morning, the Wrights achieved the world’s first controlled flights. Here, they realized not only own dream – but also one of humanity’s oldest dreams – to fly!The boulder and numbered markers on the field in front of you mark the takeoff and landing spots of those four flights.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION: The First Four Flights. Each flight and its path are shown with different types of lines. The path for the first flight is small dots and shows the flight lasting 12 seconds and traveling 120 feet. The path for the second flight is a small dashed line showing the flight lasting 12 seconds and traveling 175 feet. The third flight path is a longer dashed line showing the flight lasting 15 seconds and traveling 200 feet. The fourth flight path is a heavier, longer dashed line showing the flight lasting 59 seconds and traveling 852 feet.