Invention & experiment
How we learned to fly
Follow the Wrights from a bicycle workshop to controlled flight, then compare two museums’ views of the first military airplane.
About 15 minutes in Overview · Choose In depth whenever you want to stay longer.
Begin with the first story →- 01
National Mall
Wright Bicycle, St. Clair
Begin with the workshop. Look for the connection between practical making and the problems of building an aircraft.
Read this stop → - 02
National Mall
1902 Wright Glider
Move from making a machine to controlling it. The glider helps explain the step before powered flight.
Read this stop → - 03
National Mall
1903 Wright Flyer
Bring the problems together: lift, propulsion, structure, and control had to work as one aircraft.
Read this stop → - 04
National Mall
Wright Military Flyer
Follow the transition from experimental flights to an airplane intended for military use.
Read this stop → - 05
Air Force Museum
Wright 1909 Military Flyer
Finish in Dayton. Compare how another museum presents the Military Flyer, keeping the identity of each displayed object in view.
Read this stop →