The Wright Brothers’ Flight 1903 Stamp

The set of three stamps issued in February 2003, for the centenary of the Wright Brothers’ historic flight on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, N.C., USA – presents their first manned, motorised and controlled flight in a heavier-than-air machine in human history. The NIS 2.30 stamp shows the 1902 Glider after release and the tab, experiments with an improved glider in 1901. The NIS 3.30 stamp shows the Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville pictured with parts of the flying machine they developed. The tab is of the motor, propeller and a wing rib of the Wright Flyer. The NIS 5.90 stamp presents the drama of the first flight – Orville Wright at the controls and the tab shows the Wright Flyer in the air, and flight details (height: 10 feet, distance: 120 feet, endurance: 12 seconds).

In the USA the brothers founded the “Wright Company” holding the patent rights for America, and so commenced the rapid development of the airtraffic industry which has revolutionised the modern world. The stamps with an information sheet are enclosed in a plastic protection sheet.