On December 17, 1903, at shortly after 10:30 a.m., Orville Wright made the first powered, controlled, and sustained airplane flight in history - watched by his brother Wilbur. It was a moment that changed the history of the world.
The first major exhibit encountered by visitors is EAA’s tribute to the genius of the Wright Brothers – a highly accurate replica of the Wright Flyer, surrounded by exhibits and audio-visual displays telling their story.
Over a four-year period, the Wright Brothers had patiently unlocked the secrets of flight, while working at the forefront of international science and technology while running a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. They experimented to uncover important new aerodynamic information, then designed and built the world's first practical airplane.
Their story of ingenuity, discovery and perseverance has been an inspiration to airplane designers and builders ever since.