click zoom to display a high-res image
Wright Airplane Landing
Image
An Italian soldier on horseback watches Wilbur Wright land a Wright "Flyer" somewhere near Rome. After his triumphant demonstration of the "Flyer" in France in 1908, Wilbur Wright flew to Italy to demonstrate his airplane for the Italian Army. His arrival near Rome was witnessed by vacationing Milwaukee businessman Louis Allis who took this candid snapshot. It is likely that Allis was the second person with Wisconsin ties to see the Wright plane fly.
April 1909
Allis, Louis
Publication Information
Physical Description
Collection Information
Copyright Information
W0135E2
WHi 10536
Image
Digital Collections
Explore more than 100,000 collection items online through the Society’s digital collections. For over two decades, we’ve been scanning, photographing, and digitizing materials from our collections, creating a rich and growing digital archive that brings history closer to you.
The Wisconsin Historical Society offers an ever-growing digital collection. Digitized materials reflect the full range of items in the collections including photographs, letters, newsletters, films, posters, architectural drawings, menus, and ephemera.
Attribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Accessing Collections
The vast majority of the items in our collections are not online. The Society owns thousands of archival collections viewable in our Archives reading room. To view and conduct research in our collections, visit us in person.
First to Fly in Italy
1909
Crowds of Italians rushing to see Wilbur Wright and his airplane near Rome. After his triumphant demonstration of the "Flyer" in France the previous fall, Wilbur flew to Italy to demonstrate his pl...
Fish Flying
1912
A Wright Model B Flyer at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. Although unidentified, this is believed to be the aircraft that Farnum Fish flew at the fairgrounds in 1912.
Kaminski at the State Fairgrounds
1912
John Kaminski and his Curtiss pusher were scheduled to fly at the 1912 Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Milwaukee, along with several other Curtiss aviators and Farnum Fish in his Wright Flyer.
First to Fly — Wilbur Wright
1912
Wilbur Wright, in profile, with a Wright Flyer. The original photographic postcard from which this image was copied was presented by Wright to pioneer aviator Jesse Brabazon of Delavan, Wisconsin. ...
First to Fly — Completing the Army Demonstration
1909
Wilbur Wright, in the bowler hat, preparing the Flyer for the conclusion of the test required to win a U.S. Army contract. The 1908 demonstration had been interrupted by a crash in which Orville wa...
Wright Brothers' Hydroplane
1912
A hydroplane built by the Wright Brothers being tested by the U.S. Navy on San Diego Bay.