Thursday, December 17, 1903
- near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina -
Learn & Lather!
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright proved that man could fly. Above the dunes near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the brothers’ heavier-than-air flying machine took a total of four flights. Orville remained aloft for twelve seconds (first flight), while Wilbur stayed in the air almost a minute (last flight).
The selection of a key...
...must be studied in greater detail before use. The arrival time this morning nearly compromised the journey. Taking on the role of a local reporter worked well as it allowed me the opportunity to speak with the Wright Brothers. While not necessary to my own undertakings, it was quite an honor to meet them. After watching the remaining three flights that day, I was struck by how far aviation had come in such a short period of time. Remarkable! J.B. would have loved this trip.
Key (borrowed) – A glass plate negative of Orville Wright in flight, December 17, 1903. Mr. Franklin starts and stops repeatedly. The negative quality of the key prevents it from being fully scanned. A black cloth placed underneath the plate solves the problem. Mr. Franklin is now operable.
Arrival – 10:35 a.m., just as Orville was making his first flight. Thankfully, everyone onsite was watching the historic event and did not notice our arrival. I quickly covered Mr. Franklin, made my way to the dune, and introduced myself as a local reporter.
Scent/s – Mid-afternoon. There is a recognizable but indescribable smell that is associated with the beach. Although I have traveled more than 100 years into the past, the scent of salt air and wet sand, is nearly (although not exactly) the same as today. [ Custom-coated fabric (SX1) collected the scent in 3 minutes, 23 seconds (conditions: cold and windy). ]
Header Image from Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/00652085/