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- Crowd Gathered to Watch Demonstration Flights by Wilbur Wright, France, 1908-1909 - Wilbur Wright's many demonstration flights in France in 1908 and 1909 were spectacular events. Some in Europe had begun to doubt the Wrights' achievement at Kill Devil Hills. When Wilbur took to the skies over Le Mans, demonstrating more control and achieving more distance than his rivals, crowds flocked to watch his apparent mastery of the airplane. The skeptics were silenced.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Crowd Gathered to Watch Demonstration Flights by Wilbur Wright, France, 1908-1909
Wilbur Wright's many demonstration flights in France in 1908 and 1909 were spectacular events. Some in Europe had begun to doubt the Wrights' achievement at Kill Devil Hills. When Wilbur took to the skies over Le Mans, demonstrating more control and achieving more distance than his rivals, crowds flocked to watch his apparent mastery of the airplane. The skeptics were silenced.
- Crowd Watching Wilbur Wright Preparing the Flyer, France, 1908-1909 - Wilbur Wright's many demonstration flights in France in 1908 and 1909 were spectacular events. Some in Europe had begun to doubt the Wrights' achievement at Kill Devil Hills. When Wilbur took to the skies over Le Mans, demonstrating more control and achieving more distance than his rivals, crowds flocked to watch his apparent mastery of the airplane. The skeptics were silenced.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Crowd Watching Wilbur Wright Preparing the Flyer, France, 1908-1909
Wilbur Wright's many demonstration flights in France in 1908 and 1909 were spectacular events. Some in Europe had begun to doubt the Wrights' achievement at Kill Devil Hills. When Wilbur took to the skies over Le Mans, demonstrating more control and achieving more distance than his rivals, crowds flocked to watch his apparent mastery of the airplane. The skeptics were silenced.
- Wright Flyer on Carrier inside Bollee Automobile Factory, Le Mans, France, 1908 - Leon Bollee, a French automobile manufacturer, became one of the Wright brothers' most important friends in 1908 when he offered workspace and a crew of mechanics to Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights at Le Mans, France. The language barrier meant that Wright did most of the mechanical work on the airplane himself, but Bollee's assistance was much appreciated.
- August 01, 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Wright Flyer on Carrier inside Bollee Automobile Factory, Le Mans, France, 1908
Leon Bollee, a French automobile manufacturer, became one of the Wright brothers' most important friends in 1908 when he offered workspace and a crew of mechanics to Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights at Le Mans, France. The language barrier meant that Wright did most of the mechanical work on the airplane himself, but Bollee's assistance was much appreciated.
- Leon Bollee Sitting at the Controls of the Wright Flyer at Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909 - Leon Bollee was a close and important friend to Wilbur Wright during Wright's airplane demonstrations in France in 1908. Bollee offered Wright workspace and a crew of mechanics in his Le Mans automobile factory, and he asked for nothing in return. Nevertheless, Wright repaid the favor by taking Bollee up for a flight.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Leon Bollee Sitting at the Controls of the Wright Flyer at Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909
Leon Bollee was a close and important friend to Wilbur Wright during Wright's airplane demonstrations in France in 1908. Bollee offered Wright workspace and a crew of mechanics in his Le Mans automobile factory, and he asked for nothing in return. Nevertheless, Wright repaid the favor by taking Bollee up for a flight.
- Wilbur Wright and Passenger during a Flight over Camp D'Avours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909 - The Wright brothers are famous for their first flight in a powered, heavier-than-air craft on December 17, 1903. It was not until August 8, 1908 that they made their first official public demonstration of their unique controllable flyer. This shows Wilbur Wright flying near the ground while taking off at Les Hunandières horse racing track near Le Mans, France.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Wilbur Wright and Passenger during a Flight over Camp D'Avours, near Le Mans, France, 1908-1909
The Wright brothers are famous for their first flight in a powered, heavier-than-air craft on December 17, 1903. It was not until August 8, 1908 that they made their first official public demonstration of their unique controllable flyer. This shows Wilbur Wright flying near the ground while taking off at Les Hunandières horse racing track near Le Mans, France.
- Wilbur Wright and His First French Pupil, Comte de Lambert, Pau, France, 1909 - After his triumphant demonstration flights at Le Mans in the fall of 1908, Wilbur Wright relocated to Pau, in the south of France, for the winter. His brother Orville and sister Katharine soon joined him there. Wilbur made 64 flights at Pau in February and March of 1909. The Wrights attracted constant visits from monarchs, politicians, business tycoons, and reporters.
- 1909
- Collections - Artifact
Wilbur Wright and His First French Pupil, Comte de Lambert, Pau, France, 1909
After his triumphant demonstration flights at Le Mans in the fall of 1908, Wilbur Wright relocated to Pau, in the south of France, for the winter. His brother Orville and sister Katharine soon joined him there. Wilbur made 64 flights at Pau in February and March of 1909. The Wrights attracted constant visits from monarchs, politicians, business tycoons, and reporters.
- Wilbur Wright Flying at Centocelle, Italy, 1909 - Following his triumphant flights in France, Wilbur Wright traveled to Italy to make additional demonstrations in April 1909. Monarchs, politicians, and business leaders watched Wright soar over an open plain at Centocelle, some 12 miles outside Rome. Wright also trained two Italian pilots, Mario Calderara and Umberto Savoia, while he was there.
- 1909
- Collections - Artifact
Wilbur Wright Flying at Centocelle, Italy, 1909
Following his triumphant flights in France, Wilbur Wright traveled to Italy to make additional demonstrations in April 1909. Monarchs, politicians, and business leaders watched Wright soar over an open plain at Centocelle, some 12 miles outside Rome. Wright also trained two Italian pilots, Mario Calderara and Umberto Savoia, while he was there.
- Wilbur Wright and Rene Pellier with the Flyer, Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, October 5, 1908 - After his impressive demonstration flights at Le Mans, France, in 1908, Wilbur Wright became one of the most celebrated men in Europe. Monarchs, politicians and business leaders came to see him fly, as did fellow aviators. Wright took more than 40 passengers up into the sky with him during his French flights, including Rene Pellier, the vice-president of the Aero Club of Sarthe.
- October 05, 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Wilbur Wright and Rene Pellier with the Flyer, Camp d'Auvours, near Le Mans, France, October 5, 1908
After his impressive demonstration flights at Le Mans, France, in 1908, Wilbur Wright became one of the most celebrated men in Europe. Monarchs, politicians and business leaders came to see him fly, as did fellow aviators. Wright took more than 40 passengers up into the sky with him during his French flights, including Rene Pellier, the vice-president of the Aero Club of Sarthe.
- The Wright Flyer on the Ground near the Launching Derrick, France, 1908-1909 - The Wright brothers' early airplanes had no wheels, just simple landing skids. To achieve takeoff, they devised a clever catapult system. The airplane was attached, with cables and pulleys, to a weight suspended in a tower. When the weight fell, it pulled the plane along a wooden rail fast enough to generate the necessary lift.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
The Wright Flyer on the Ground near the Launching Derrick, France, 1908-1909
The Wright brothers' early airplanes had no wheels, just simple landing skids. To achieve takeoff, they devised a clever catapult system. The airplane was attached, with cables and pulleys, to a weight suspended in a tower. When the weight fell, it pulled the plane along a wooden rail fast enough to generate the necessary lift.
- Preparing for a Demonstration Flight of the Wright Flyer, France, 1908-1909 - Wilbur Wright made his successful French demonstration flights in what was later designated a Wright Model A airplane. The Model A featured several improvements over the Wright brothers' earlier planes. It allowed the pilot to sit upright, rather than lay down, while in flight. It also included a passenger seat, letting Wilbur take dignitaries and would-be customers into the sky with him.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Preparing for a Demonstration Flight of the Wright Flyer, France, 1908-1909
Wilbur Wright made his successful French demonstration flights in what was later designated a Wright Model A airplane. The Model A featured several improvements over the Wright brothers' earlier planes. It allowed the pilot to sit upright, rather than lay down, while in flight. It also included a passenger seat, letting Wilbur take dignitaries and would-be customers into the sky with him.