Search
- Preparing the Wright Flyer's 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
Preparing the Wright Flyer's 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.
- Positioning the Wright Flyer on the Launch Rail, 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
Positioning the Wright Flyer on the Launch Rail, 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.
- Wright Airplane Flying near Launching Derrick, Camp d'Avours, near Le Mans, France, 1908 - Worried that rivals would steal their yet-to-be patented designs, the Wright brothers stopped flying publicly for nearly three years in late 1905. People began to doubt that the Wrights had ever flown. Skeptics were silenced in August 1908 when Wilbur Wright made a series of spectacular demonstration flights at Le Mans, France, achieving more distance and control than anyone else.
- 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Wright Airplane Flying near Launching Derrick, Camp d'Avours, near Le Mans, France, 1908
Worried that rivals would steal their yet-to-be patented designs, the Wright brothers stopped flying publicly for nearly three years in late 1905. People began to doubt that the Wrights had ever flown. Skeptics were silenced in August 1908 when Wilbur Wright made a series of spectacular demonstration flights at Le Mans, France, achieving more distance and control than anyone else.
- Wing of the Wright Flyer inside the Bollee 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.
- May 1908-August 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Wing of the Wright Flyer inside the Bollee 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.
- Wright Flyer 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.
- May 1908-August 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Wright Flyer 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.
- Wilbur Wright Preparing the Wright Flyer for a Demonstration Flight, France, 1908-1909 - Wilbur Wright was a cautious pilot who never took unnecessary risks. During his demonstration flights in France in 1908-1909, Wilbur made a thorough, personal inspection of his airplane before each takeoff. The danger was real. Orville Wright was seriously injured, and passenger Thomas Selfridge was killed, in a crash at Fort Myer, Virginia, caused by a split propeller in 1908.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Wilbur Wright Preparing the Wright Flyer for a Demonstration Flight, France, 1908-1909
Wilbur Wright was a cautious pilot who never took unnecessary risks. During his demonstration flights in France in 1908-1909, Wilbur made a thorough, personal inspection of his airplane before each takeoff. The danger was real. Orville Wright was seriously injured, and passenger Thomas Selfridge was killed, in a crash at Fort Myer, Virginia, caused by a split propeller in 1908.
- Two Seat Bollee Automobile, 1900-1910 - Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- circa 1900-circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Two Seat Bollee Automobile, 1900-1910
Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- Calculating and Printing Machine, circa 1900 - Leon Bollee manufactured automobiles in France from 1895 until his death in 1913. He also invented a series of mechanical calculating machines -- forerunners of the electric calculator. Bollee made an important contribution to aviation when he provided Wilbur Wright with workspace and a crew of mechanics for Wright's successful airplane demonstrations at Le Mans, France, in 1908.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Calculating and Printing Machine, circa 1900
Leon Bollee manufactured automobiles in France from 1895 until his death in 1913. He also invented a series of mechanical calculating machines -- forerunners of the electric calculator. Bollee made an important contribution to aviation when he provided Wilbur Wright with workspace and a crew of mechanics for Wright's successful airplane demonstrations at Le Mans, France, in 1908.
- Man Driving a Bollee Automobile, 1900-1910 - Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- circa 1900-circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Man Driving a Bollee Automobile, 1900-1910
Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- Bollee Automobile Hoisted onto Its Back Wheels, 1900-1910 - Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.
- circa 1900-circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Bollee Automobile Hoisted onto Its Back Wheels, 1900-1910
Leon Bollee Automobiles was established in Le Mans, France, in 1895 and produced vehicles until 1931. The company's founder and namesake, Leon Bollee, made another significant contribution to transportation history. He befriended Wilbur Wright during Wright's successful demonstration flights near Le Mans in 1908. Bollee offered Wright the use of his factory and mechanics for the duration of the flights.