American aviator Glenn Curtiss in Rheims, France in 1908. Aviator Glen Curtiss sitting at the controls of his own designed airplane. The airplane takes off.
French aviator Henri Farman flies his aircraft in France in 1908. Tail to nose section view of Henry Farman flying his aircraft. Farman prepares his aircraft for the flight, pours fuel in a gas tank from a small can. Farman's aircraft takes off.
Launch of Wright plane in North Carolina on 17 December 1903 and in Virginia on 09 September 1908, United States. Wibur Wright places wheels beneath wing on Kill devil hill, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, United States. Wright plane takes its first flight after launch. Flight of plane in France. Two men pull props through on the Wright aircraft. Frenchmen stand and watch Wilbur Wright who makes adjustment on aircraft engine. Launching tower at right. Wright plane launches by catapult in France. Civilians and officers attend the air show. Wright plane passes overhead. Flight of Wright plane in United States. Orville Wright and Lieutenant Lahm sits on control section of the plane. Wright plane launches by catapult launch track at Fort Myers in Virginia on 09 September 1908. Plane in flight at Fort Myers. Spectators watch the plane. Army personnel move the Wright plane across open terrain they remove hangar doors from storage building. Army personnel grouped around the Wright aircraft. President Taft stand along the spectators. President Taft walk through spectators.
German slates refer to the dream of "Northern" people to fly, fulfilled by aircraft development. Scenes from Paris airshow in 1908, when it was a feature of the automobile show that year. Hangars bear names of aircraft companies: Bleriot; Vetze and others, with historic vintage airplanes of the period parked on the grass in front of each. A man plays with a dog in the grass. Spectators are seated in stands set up in the background. Scene shifts to 1935, where a long row of German aircraft are shown parked with engines running. Then it shifts to 1943, during World War 2, with a long line of German Messerschmitt aircraft parked with engines running. An animated map shows air lines of communication emanating from center of Germany and extending throughout Europe. Huge formations of German warplanes are seen in flight.
A film on the development of air power of the United States. A still photograph of Orville Wright flying the first aircraft on 17 December 1903 at Kill Devil Hills in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Two men turn propellers and start the engines of Wright "A" aircraft in France. Catapult launching tower behind the aircraft. Spectators in stands during the first public demonstration of Wright Brothers airplane, at Le Mans, France. The takeoff and the flight of Wright Brothers "A" aircraft. Orville Wright and U.S. Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm seated in Wright "A" aircraft at Fort Myer in Virginia. Orville Wright and Lt. Lahm in Wright "A" aircraft in flight over Fort Myer.
The first passenger flight of Wilbur Wright's airplane in Le Mans, France. A newspaper announcing the first passenger flight of the Wright Brothers airplane. Wilbur Wright and a French journalist climb aboard the airplane for the first passenger flight. The airplane takes off and gains altitude. Civilians watch Wilbur Wright's first passenger flight. Tress in the background. Wilbur Wright's airplane carrying the first passenger.