A year of glides at Kill Devil Hills

The 1903 Flyer was, in the Smithsonian’s account, essentially a larger and sturdier version of the 1902 glider, with a propulsion system added. The photographs below are of that 1902 glider, not of the powered machine.

A biplane glider is being launched down a sandy slope, with one man at the controls and two men holding the wingtips — The Wright brothers’ 1902 glider being launched at Kill Devil Hills on 10 October 1902. Wilbur Wright is at the controls, Orville Wright is at left, and Dan Tate, a local resident and friend of the brothers, is at right. This is a glider, not the 1903 powered Flyer.Unknown photographer (NASA historic photograph GPN-2002-000125) · Public Domain (NASA)

Seen from behind, a biplane glider banks to the right just above a sandy slope, with the lower right wing close to the ground — A rear view of Wilbur Wright making a right turn in the 1902 glider, on 24 October 1902, with the right wing tipped close to the ground. This is the 1902 glider, not the 1903 powered Flyer.Attributed to Wilbur Wright and/or Orville Wright, most likely Orville Wright · Public Domain

The Wrights pioneered techniques of modern aeronautical engineering such as the use of a wind tunnel and flight testing as design tools, the Smithsonian writes. [Smithsonian NASM]

The wind tunnel and the glider tests were how the Wrights arrived at a machine they could fly, before they ever bolted an engine to it. The powered flights are told on 17 December 1903.

A year of glides at Kill Devil Hills

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