First Flight

[Cruiser]

Back slaps all around! Just about this time 110 yrs ago. The two greatest inventors in the world just finished proving powered flight was possible.

 

Where: camp at Kill Devil Hills, NC

Temp: cold/freezing

Winds: gusting to 27 mph.

 

"Wilbur started the fourth and last flight at just about 12 o'clock. The first few hundred feet were up and down, as before, but by the time three hundred ft had been covered, the machine was under much better control. The course for the next four or five hundred feet had but little undulation. However, when out about eight hundred feet the machine began pitching again, and, in one of its darts downward, struck the ground. The distance over the ground was measured to be 852 feet; the time of the flight was 59 seconds. The frame supporting the front rudder was badly broken, but the main part of the machine was not injured at all."

 

Thank You, Wilbur and Orville

[Bob_Belville]

I may have told this story here... I was at Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head for the First Flight Anniversary in 1979. The evening before we attended a meeting in the hotel banquet room of the "Man Will Never Fly Society" with technical presentations from an astronaut and the CEO of Piedmont Airlines. I met a man in his 80s or 90s who as a boy had witnessed the Wrights' first flights. His father was a local man who helped the Ohio bicycle mechanics with their experiments. 

[Marauder]

I may have told this story here... I was at Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head for the First Flight Anniversary in 1979. The evening before we attended a meeting in the hotel banquet room of the "Man Will Never Fly Society" with technical presentations from an astronaut and the CEO of Piedmont Airlines. I met a man in his 80s or 90s who as a boy had witnessed the Wrights' first flights. His father was a local man who helped the Ohio bicycle mechanics with their experiments. 

 

 LOL! You almost had me there Bob... This is what I read "I may have told this story here... I was at Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head for the First Flight" -- glad I read on...

[1964-M20E]

Controlled, powered, heavier than air flight first brought to you by the Wright Brothers.  However, this is disputed in some circles not to be aurgued here.

 

Wow 59 seconds to travel 852 feet a whopping 9.7mph +/- amazing. 

 

Original Wright flyer R&D $1,000

Location rental $50

Countless pilots later and Wilbur’s smile priceless.

 

We need more speed and distance to get off the ground in our beloved planes.

 

If the Wright brothers would have had to deal with the FAA the original flyer would have probably cost in excess of $50,000 and would not have flown until 1933.

 

[Carl S]

And to think the world first learned of it in that lumminary apiarian publication, "Gleanings in Bee Culture."  

 

Mr Root did have a way with words, such as this excerpt,"...Imagine a locomotive that has left its track, and is climbing up in the air right toward you – a locomotive without any wheels, we will say, but with white wings instead, we will further say – a locomotive made of aluminum.”

“Well, now imagine this white locomotive, with wings that spread 20 feet each way, coming right toward you with a tremendous flap of its propellers, and you will have something like what I saw. The younger brother bade me move to one side for fear it might come down suddenly; but I tell you friends, the sensation that one feels in such a crisis is something hard to describe.”

 

By the way, in addition to his publications, Root sent the article to "Scientific American" who rejected is as not worthy of publication.

[Bob_Belville]

Old... but not THAT old, B26!

[Danb]

Chris you lost me  easy to do  Dan

[Marauder]

Old... but not THAT old, B26!

Pretty funny Bob!

[Marauder]

Chris you lost me easy to do Dan

I stopped reading for a sec right after Bob's "I was at Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head for the First Flight" -- Bob was just pointing out he wasn't there...

[flyingvee201]

The grandfather of a good friend of mine was there just watching the Wright brothers all day messing with their "flying machine". He was asked to come over closer and "press this button here when you see something good to photograph". Well....he was the one that took one of many pictures that day.

[Piloto]

My grand niece "Alondra" first flight.

 

Tio José

[Dave Marten]

Happy Birthday Aviation!

 

Now Go FLY! Better yet invite a kid or friend to go along with you.

 

Keep the magic of flight alive - Pass it on!

[Piloto]

Best First Flight Video

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8JU-1ZrRAg

 

Watch it. You will love it.

 

José