Title: [First flight, 120 feet in 12 seconds, 10:35 a.m.; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina] Other Title: First flight, December 17, 1903. Date Created / Published: [1903 Dec. 17]
Photograph shows the first powered, controlled, sustained flight. Orville Wright at the controls of the machine, lying prone on the lower wing with hips in the cradle which operated the wing-warping mechanism. Wilbur Wright running alongside to balance the machine, has just released his hold on the forward upright of the right wing. The starting rail, the wing-rest, a coil box, and other items needed for flight preparation are visible behind the machine. (Orville Wright preset the camera and had John T. Daniels squeeze the rubber bulb, tripping the shutter.)
Rights Advisory: No known restriction on publication. Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppprs-00626 (digital file from original) LC-W861-35 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZ62-6166A (b&w film copy neg.) This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppprs.00626.
Access Advisory: Restricted access. Please use digital image or other reference copy. Original photograph is too fragile to serve. Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA .
