First Flight

The lesser known Wright brother was John Wright who took his first flight by way of hang glide.  His flight was off Jockey's Ridge, a few miles away from where Orville and Wilbur flew.  Orville and Wilbur's jealousy of John's much-more-normal first name caused them to refute John's claims of his first flight.  Luckily an archive of never-before-seen photographs of John's first flight have been uncovered.

Not too many places teach you how to jump off giant sand dunes, but Kitty Hawk Kites has a hang gliding school.  

Clearly, John was their first student.

From down on the ground, I couldn't really figure out what they were teaching him, but they made lay on the ground to practice.  Since he was the first student, after all, they had no idea what to teach him.

This is, presumably, the pep talk.  

And he's off.

Last few steps on the ground, and ...

He's up!

Still up.

And sadly, the first flight ended in the first crash.  

Sorry, Mr. Wright, that looks pretty rough.  (Be glad I didn't insert at Mr. Wrong joke here.)

The poor instructors get the task of carrying the glider up the dune after each flight.  Err, but since this was the first flight, this was his first time ever doing it!

The world's second flight was much more successful.

The instructor could hardly contain him.

Go, John, go!

Look at him stick that landing!

10.0!  

Good thing he could teach Orville and Wilbur a few things before they had their first go.  Thank goodness the true history of the first flight has finally been documented.  All is right in the world.