SECRETARY’S REPORT 3 
institution such as the Smithsonian, of so vital interest and importance 
to the American people, must receive increased financial support if 
it is to continue to meet its full obligations and to further the high 
ideals of its founder, James Smithson, who left his entire fortune in 
trust to the United States of America for the benefit of all mankind; 
PRESENTATION OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS’ AEROPLANE OF 1903 
TO THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
On December 17, 1948, the forty-fifth anniversary of the first flight 
by Wilbur and Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk, N. C., the original 
aeroplane that made that historic flight became the property of the 
American people. At a formal ceremony in the Museum attended 
by many high civil and military officials the plane was presented to 
the United States National Museum by Milton Wright on behalf of 
the estate of Orville Wright. 
The story of the plane goes back to December 17, 1903, when the 
Wright Brothers were ready after several years of research and 
experiment to test out their gasoline-engine-powered biplane at 
Kitty Hawk on the coast of North Carolina. With Orville at the 
controls, the machine was released, and after a 40-foot run on the 
launching track, it lifted into the air in full flight. In Orville Wright’s 
own words: 
“The flight lasted only 12 seconds, but it was nevertheless the first 
in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had 
raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed 
forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point 
as high as that from which it started.” 
Three more flights were made the same day, but after the last 
flight a strong gust of wind turned the plane over, damaging it so 
badly that no more trials were made that year. The damaged 
machine and engine were sent back to the Wrights’ workshop in 
Dayton, and 13 years later were restored, using all the original parts 
available. The aeroplane was displayed at the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology and later at several aeronautical exhibitions. 
In 1928 Orville Wright had it sent as a loan to the Science Museum 
at South Kensington, London, England, where it remained on exhibi- 
tion until World War II. Owing to the danger of damage by bomb- 
ing, the plane was removed to a safe place for the duration of the war, 
When Orville Wright died on January 30, 1948, it was learned 
from papers in his files that he wished the Kitty Hawk aeroplane to 
be returned to the United States and placed in the National Museum. 
The executors of his estate conferred with officials of the Science 
