About the program
The Wright brothers’ 1906 patent was an important milestone in aviation history, but, at the time, it was only one of dozens of flying machine patents that had been awarded.
Several early aviation inventions reflect 19th-century research into balloons, paddlewheel boats, and the mechanics of bird flight. Some of the inventions worked. Most of them never got off the ground. All of them provide a glimpse into the world of early aviation.
The geographical diversity of the inventors reflects the nationwide interest in aviation. A few of them were prominent inventors and aviation pioneers, such as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Otto Lilienthal, and Igor Sikorsky. But most of the inventors are unknown today. Their only legacy is the flying machine they designed and had hoped to fly.
The Linda Hall Fold & Fly Rally
Test your aeronautical design skills at our paper airplane contest immediately following the presentation. Channeling the pioneers of flight, the Fold & Fly Rally is your chance to create a bold design in honor of early aviators (with significantly less risk!). Prizes will be awarded for distance, acrobatics, and most creative design.
