Daily Activities
About this exhibit
Let your imagination take off as you explore the early days of flight from a completely fresh perspective. Discover the science and enterprise of flight through hands-on, multisensory experiences that allow you to get an inside look at the vessels that propelled the world upward.
Travel through more than 50 years of flight’s evolution as you sit inside authentically re-created fuselages of a Boeing 40, Ford Tri-Motor, Douglas DC-3 and Boeing 737. Let the replica Wright Flyer transport you to Kitty Hawk as you surround yourself with the sights and sounds of the Wright brothers' first flight. Soar through the sky on the wing of a plane in our heightened flight simulation, which puts you in the shoes of legendary wing walkers. Get inspired by those who shot for the sky when the concept of flight was just getting off the ground — and discover what’s possible when you reach higher.
Highlights
1925 Fokker F.VII Tri-Motor Airplane, "Josephine Ford," Flown Over the North Pole by Richard Byrd
Explorer Richard Byrd and pilot Floyd Bennett flew this Fokker F.VII Tri-Motor airplane toward the North Pole on May 9, 1926. Though Byrd is generally credited with reaching the pole, controversy remains. Edsel Ford financed the expedition, and Byrd acknowledged his patron by naming the plane Josephine Ford, after Ford's daughter.
1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor Airplane, "Floyd Bennett," Flown Over the South Pole by Richard E. Byrd
The Ford Tri-Motor was the most popular airliner of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Its rugged dependability led Richard Byrd to choose a Tri-Motor for his attempt to be the first person to fly over the South Pole. On November 28-29, 1929, Byrd and a crew of three achieved that goal in this plane.
1931 Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro
Like an airplane, the autogiro is moved by an engine-powered propeller, but like a helicopter, lift is provided by a rotor. The rotor is not powered, and while the aircraft can land vertically, it cannot take off vertically. The Detroit News purchased this autogiro to gather news. The novel aircraft probably was better at making news!
Replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer
This copy of the 1903 Wright Flyer faithfully replicates the original aircraft. On December 17, 2003, the replica attempted to duplicate the Wright brothers' first flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, exactly one hundred years after that historic feat. The attempt was foiled by bad weather, though the replica flew successfully in earlier tests.
1939 Sikorsky VS-300A Helicopter
Igor Sikorsky, as a young man in Russia, tried unsuccessfully to build a helicopter in 1909. He went on to build fixed-wing aircraft but returned to helicopters in 1938. Within three years, he had developed the first practical helicopter in the United States: the VS-300A.
Heroes of the Sky
Explore early aviation history at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Discover the lives of aviation pioneers and view innovative aircraft up close as you journey through our Heroes of the Sky exhibit.
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