Daily Archives: June 27, 2009
Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hill…
Today we drove the toad about 50 miles south to Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hill, NC to see the Wright Brothers Monument celebrating the first powered flight on December 17, 1903.
Here is the the picture of Kill Devil Hill where the Wright Brothers first tested their gliders starting in 1900.
Kill Devil Hill
Here is a pic of the 1900 glider that they flew from this hill.
1900 Glider
Here is a couple of pictures of the 1903 Flyer that the Orville Wright used to first achieved powered flight.
1903 Wright Flyer from the left rear
1903 Wright Flyer from the right rear
They made 4 flights that first day before a gust of wind overturned the craft while the brothers were discussing the 5th flight, ending their flying for that year.
The first flight traveled 120 feet, the second traveled 175 feet, the third traveled for 200 feet, and the last flight traveled for an amazing 852 feet and lasted for 59 seconds.
You can see the relative distances in these two pics.
First Flight Distances 1, 2, 3
First Flight Distances 2, 3, 4
I had to spread them across two different pics to get them all in.
It was really amazing to contemplate while looking at the Wright Flyer, that less than 66 years later, we landed on the moon.
After leaving the monument area we drove around the area doing some sightseeing.
Later we headed up north to Virginia Beach, VA to eat at El Pollo Loco and stop off at a Sam’s Club for ‘stuff’.
Due to running out of time, we decided to visit the Military Aviation Museum tomorrow.
Later…
