Notice of an Aviation Meet Featuring the Wright Brothers' Passenger-Carrying Aeroplanes, Columbia, South Carolina, 1913

01

Artifact Overview

The Wright brothers, always cautious when flying their airplanes, were hesitant to participate in stunt-heavy aviation meets. But the public loved seeing daredevil "birdmen" in action, and the Wrights reluctantly formed an exhibition team in 1910. It was a dangerous business, but it spurred interest in aviation and helped sell airplanes.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Advertisement

Date Made

19 November 1913

Subject Date

27 November 1913-29 November 1913

Creator Notes

Page from the Columbia Record newspaper, Columia, South Carolina, published by Record Publishing Co.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

38.560.33

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ernest L. Jones.

Material

Newsprint

Dimensions

Height: 21.25 in
Width: 16.75 in

02

Related Content

  • Air Racing Poster, "Over 200 Miles Per Hour International Air Races," St. Louis, Missouri, 1921
    Set

    Exhibition Flying

    • 22 Artifacts
    Part showmanship and part salesmanship, early aviation meets and air shows improved airplane technology and promoted the aviation industry. Air races celebrated speed, with pilots competing against the clock or against each other on marked courses. Reliability tours focused on stamina, with prizes awarded for dependable flying on specific schedules. Exhibition flying launched great careers for some -- and cut them short for others.
  • Lillian Boyer Performing Stunts Atop an Airplane in Flight, circa 1922
    Set

    Barnstormers

    • 20 Artifacts
    Barnstorming aerial performers thrilled audiences in the 1920s with death-defying "aerobatic" stunts. Equipped with war-surplus airplanes and steely nerves, they toured the country giving many Americans their first in-person experiences with aviation. Most barnstormers barely eked out a living, but a few found wealth and fame. By decade's end, aging aircraft, fading novelty, and growing government regulation largely ended the barnstorming era.