Kitty Hawk

Wright Brother's Flying Machine

Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought the Wright Brothers to Kitty Hawk.  For four years they devoted themselves to their goal of human flight.  This is a $1 million dollar exact replica of the first flying machine built by the Wright Brothers in 1903 and flown for the first time on December 17,1903.  The original is in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Wright Brother's Glider

This picture gives you an idea of where the pilot sat during flight, notice there is no engine.  In Wilbur's words, "It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill."  The Wright Brothers took over 1,000 glides from the top of Kill Devil Hill and became masters of the air - true pilots.

First Flight Boulder

This boulder marks where the first flight left the ground; notice the four flight markers in the distance.  Wilbur and Orville flipped a coin to see who would go first!  Wilbur won but crash landed 3 days before so on this famous day, Orville takes flight - for the first time, a manned, heavier than air machine left the ground by its own power!

The flying machine traveled along this rail before leaving the ground.

Flight Markers

1903 Hanger & Workshop

Replica of 1903 Hangar and Quarters.

Inside view of the Wright Brother's Hangar.

Inside their living area and workshop.  The brothers shared their living quarters with the glider.  They climbed the ladder and slept in burlap slings from the rafters.

Wright Brothers Monument

The Wright Brothers Monument sits atop Kill Devil Hill.  The 60-foot monument honors the Wright brothers and marks the site of the hundreds of glider flights that preceded the first powered flight.  Grass now stabilizes the 90-foot sand dune.

December 17, 1903 Sculpture 

Wilbur has just released the wing on that first flight.  Scott is watching in the distance.

Orville at the controls.

John Daniels, who was employed by the Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station was asked to take the now famous photo of the first flight.  He had never operated a camera before the morning of the flight.

Actual December 17, 1903 photograph.