Wright Brothers National Memorial

Wright Brothers National Memorial

A full-sized, accurate reproduction of the 1903 Flyer. The original 1903 Flyer is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Wings: 40 feet,4 inches long; 510 square feet Weight: 605 pounds

The first successful flight of an airplane was made from this spot by Orville Wright December 17, 1903. Just as Orville left the ground, John Daniels, a member of the lifesaving station, snapped the shutter on a preset camera, capturing the iconic image of the airborne aircraft with Wilbur running alongside.He kept it aloft until it hit the sand about 120 feet from the rail. Into the 27-mph wind, the groundspeed had been 6.8 mph, for a total airspeed of 34 mph. The flight lasted only 12 seconds, and the distance covered was less than the total length of a modern passenger airliner. 

This marker marks the spot where the flights took off.

The brothers took turns flying three more times that day, getting a feel for the controls and increasing their distance with each flight. Wilbur’s second flight - the fourth and last of the day – was an impressive 852 feet in 59 seconds. These white markers mark the distance of the first, second, third and fourth flights.