Day Thirteen - First in Flight

1903, and what a year it was! Just think about it - Henry Ford began assembly line production of Ford Motor Company, Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson began production of their iconic classic motorcycle and Wilbur and Orville Wright made history by launching the first flight of a heavier than air aircraft in that same year.

Although, I was eager to go to the Wright Brother's National Memorial, I also needed to get caught up on a back log of computer work that was beginning to pile up; and so, I dedicated the

morning to doing just that. Having accomplished that task, I then proceeded in eager anticipation of what I knew would be a very special day.

Three large buildings of the Wright Brother's National Memorial, commemorate not only the Wright Brothers' accomplishments, but memorialize the entire history of flight itself. From a film documenting the Wright Brother's achievements, trials and tribulations, to paintings and photographs of historical figures from the history of flight, to the first satellites, the moon landing and the International Space Station - it's all there!

In pursuing an area to begin their "exploration of flight", the Wright brothers had selected three prospective sites which fulfilled their requirements for - strong "steady" winds, rolling hills, sand dunes and privacy. Of the three, only the city of Kitty Hawk responded to their letters, and invited them with a warm welcome to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Today, grasses now cover the slightly rolling hills of what were once the sand dunes of Kill Dare Hills. Adjacent to the three large buildings of the National Memorial, there are two small wooden reconstructions of the hanger that housed the aircraft and their small workshop. Barely 100 feet from the workshop, stones mark the landing spots of the four flights they made on that cold day on the 17th of December, 1903.

Orville made that first historic flight, simply because - it was his turn. The brothers, to avoid any arguments, simply took turns - and on that day, it was Orville's turn.

That first flight lasted a mere 12 seconds, covered a distance of 120 feet and reached an elevation of 10 feet. Nonetheless, they had proven that - man could indeed fly!

In total they completed four flights that day. On the second flight Wilbur reached a distance of nearly 200 feet and, following that, Orville reached the 200 foot plateau. However, not to be outdone, Wilbur's final flight of the day, was the ultimate triumph - flying for a full 59 seconds he covered a whopping distance of 850 feet!

Wilbur and Orville knew full well, "that today they would make history," and had mounted a tripod camera ready to capture that historic flight.

The Park Ranger related that the photographer that day, "was so caught up in the moment," that when the brothers later asked if he had indeed "captured the moment for all posterity?" He could only relate - "I don't remember!" Fortunately, he did indeed, snap that now historic photograph, perfectly timed, just after lift-off.