Photograph · John T. Daniels (for Orville and Wilbur Wright) · 17 December 1903
The Wright Flyer's first flight, Kitty Hawk, 17 December 1903
This photograph records the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft: Orville Wright at the controls of the Wright Flyer, just airborne, with Wilbur running alongside at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, at 10:35 am on 17 December 1903. It is held by the Library of Congress and is in the public domain.
History
The Wrights set up their camera on a tripod before the attempt and asked John T. Daniels, a member of the local lifesaving station crew who had never used a camera, to squeeze the bulb when the machine left the rail. He did, and the plate caught the Flyer about two feet up, 120 feet into a flight that lasted twelve seconds. Three more flights followed that morning, the longest 852 feet in 59 seconds.
The glass negative went back to Dayton with the brothers; it was damaged in the 1913 flood but the image survived. Orville Wright left the negatives to the Library of Congress, which holds the collection today. The photograph has been reproduced in nearly every history of flight and is one of the most famous images of the 20th century.
What the print shows
The Flyer a few feet off the ground, its twin propellers and two wings in sharp outline against a grey sky, with the launching rail and a bench in the sand below. Wilbur, in a cap and dark jacket, is caught mid-stride to the right, having just let go of the wing. The print is a monochrome reproduction from a high-resolution public-domain scan, in a 3 : 2 shape.
Source and licence
Source: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Wright Brothers negatives).
Licence: Public domain. The photograph was made in 1903 and the Library of Congress lists no known restrictions on its reproduction.
The Library's record is titled 'First flight, 120 feet in 12 seconds, 10:35 a.m.; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.'
Available sizes and prices
Print: paper or framed Etsy listing 4548771614
| Size | Paper | Framed |
|---|---|---|
| 8 × 12 in (21 × 30 cm) | $29.99 | $98.99 |
| 12 × 18 in (30 × 45 cm) | $44.99 | $137.99 |
| 16 × 24 in (40 × 60 cm) | $54.99 | $195.99 |
Printed to order, shipped in 2–5 business days, free US shipping. Paper: matte fine-art paper. Framed: real wood (black, white, wood, dark wood), shatterproof acrylic, ready to hang.
Buy
- Wright Brothers First Flight Kitty Hawk 1903 (print: paper or framed): buy on Etsy, from $29.99.
Frequently asked questions
- Who took the first-flight photograph?
- John T. Daniels, a member of the Kill Devil Hills lifesaving station, using the Wrights' own camera on a tripod they had set up. It was the first photograph he ever took.
- Which brother is flying?
- Orville Wright is lying prone at the controls; Wilbur is the figure running alongside on the right. They alternated flights that day.
- How long was the first flight?
- Twelve seconds and 120 feet. The fourth flight that morning, by Wilbur, covered 852 feet in 59 seconds.
- Is the photograph copyright-free?
- Yes. It is in the public domain and held by the Library of Congress with no known restrictions.
Sources
Published 20 Oct 2026; prices are the live Etsy prices as of 20 Oct 2026. The work is public domain; this page's text is © ThinkDotCo and may be quoted with a link.