Early aviation

Balloon races, biplanes, Zeppelins and the people who flew them, from Orville Wright at Fort Myer in 1909 to the Hindenburg over New York, in photographs, prints and newsreel film. Free to download and use, no permission needed.

See more in Explore

Orville Wright flying at Fort Meyer [i.e. Myer], Va. — 1909-01-01

Orville Wright flying at Fort Meyer [i.e. Myer], Va.Unknown maker · 1909-01-01

Airship Skeleton Collapses in Flames — 1937

Film Airship Skeleton Collapses in FlamesUnknown maker · 1937

AVIATION, ARMY. EARLY TYPE THOMAS FLYER, TRACTOR BIPLANE — Harris & Ewing — 1914-01-01

AVIATION, ARMY. EARLY TYPE THOMAS FLYER, TRACTOR BIPLANEHarris & Ewing · 1914-01-01

AIR MAIL. INAUGURATION OF SERVICE, POLO FIELD. START OF 1ST CONTINUOUSLY SCHEDULED SERVICE. CURTISS JN-46-H PLANE — Harris & Ewing — 1918-01-01

AIR MAIL. INAUGURATION OF SERVICE, POLO FIELD. START OF 1ST CONTINUOUSLY SCHEDULED SERVICE. CURTISS JN-46-H PLANEHarris & Ewing · 1918-01-01

Alberto Santos-Dumont taking his Demoisille monoplane out to the practice grounds for a flight, 1909 — 1909-01-01

Alberto Santos-Dumont taking his Demoisille monoplane out to the practice grounds for a flight, 1909Unknown maker · 1909-01-01

Zeppelin III in flight — Bain News Service — 1909-01-01

Zeppelin III in flightBain News Service · 1909-01-01

PACKARD LePERE PLANE. STINSON,] AVIATRIX — Harris & Ewing — 1918-01-01

PACKARD LePERE PLANE. STINSON,] AVIATRIXHarris & Ewing · 1918-01-01

Nieuport 28C.1 — S. A. Des Establisements Nieuport — 1918

Nieuport 28C.1S. A. Des Establisements Nieuport · 1918

Louis Bleriot — 1909-01-01

Louis BleriotUnknown maker · 1909-01-01

Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis", Charles A. Lindbergh — Charles A. Lindbergh — 1927

Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis", Charles A. LindberghCharles A. Lindbergh · 1927

Orville Wright and Lieutenant Lahm of the United States Signal Corps making the world's record flight at Fort Myer, on July 27--The aeroplane made fifty miles at a speed of about forty miles an hour — Harris & Ewing — 1909-01-01

Orville Wright and Lieutenant Lahm of the United States Signal Corps making the world's record flight at Fort Myer, on July 27--The aeroplane made fifty miles at a speed of about forty miles an hourHarris & Ewing · 1909-01-01

Book Cover Design for: Philipp Exel, The Wonderful Journey of the Phoenix, 1934 — F. Ockerse — in or before 1934

Book Cover Design for: Philipp Exel, The Wonderful Journey of the Phoenix, 1934F. Ockerse · in or before 1934

Indianapolis balloon race, 1909 — 1909-01-01

Indianapolis balloon race, 1909Unknown maker · 1909-01-01

Harriet Quimby in cockpit of plane — 1911-01-01

Harriet Quimby in cockpit of planeUnknown maker · 1911-01-01

Photographers on platform above crowd at Charles A. Lindbergh speech at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. — 1927-01-01

Photographers on platform above crowd at Charles A. Lindbergh speech at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.Unknown maker · 1927-01-01

Ground Crew Moor Landing Airship — 1937

Film Ground Crew Moor Landing AirshipUnknown maker · 1937

Lockheed Sirius "Tingmissartoq", Charles A. Lindbergh — Anne Morrow Lindbergh — 1931-1933

Lockheed Sirius "Tingmissartoq", Charles A. LindberghAnne Morrow Lindbergh · 1931-1933

Airship LZ 129 Hindenburg flying over New York — 1937

Film Airship LZ 129 Hindenburg flying over New YorkUnknown maker · 1937

Curtiss flying boat — Bain News Service — 1910-01-01

Curtiss flying boatBain News Service · 1910-01-01

Wilbur Wright examining canoe attachment to aeroplane before 1st flight over water — 1909-01-01

Wilbur Wright examining canoe attachment to aeroplane before 1st flight over waterUnknown maker · 1909-01-01

Zeppelin airship July 4 '08, 6:21 a.m. — Bain News Service — 1908-01-01

Zeppelin airship July 4 '08, 6:21 a.m.Bain News Service · 1908-01-01

Hot air balloon, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 3) issued by Kinney Bros. — Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company — 1889

Hot air balloon, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 3) issued by Kinney Bros.Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company · 1889

Biplane Swooping Low Over Airfield Spectators — 1933

Film Biplane Swooping Low Over Airfield SpectatorsUnknown maker · 1933

Starting motor for Louis Blériot's cross-channel flight — 1909-01-01

Starting motor for Louis Blériot's cross-channel flightUnknown maker · 1909-01-01

Amelia Earhart and group — Harris & Ewing — 1932-01-01

Amelia Earhart and groupHarris & Ewing · 1932-01-01

Berlin Balloon Race 1908 — Bain News Service — 1908-01-01

Berlin Balloon Race 1908Bain News Service · 1908-01-01

Engines with propellers of the Fokker F.XX PH-AIZ Zilvermeeuw — Willem van de Poll — 1934-10

Engines with propellers of the Fokker F.XX PH-AIZ ZilvermeeuwWillem van de Poll · 1934-10

National Aviation Fund / Commemoration of the return flight with the Pelikaan 1933 — 1934

National Aviation Fund / Commemoration of the return flight with the Pelikaan 1933Unknown maker · 1934

Gas Balloon Ascends Above Spectators — 1933

Film Gas Balloon Ascends Above SpectatorsUnknown maker · 1933

Clement-Bayard dirigible [France — Bain News Service — 1900-01-01

Clement-Bayard dirigible [FranceBain News Service · 1900-01-01

Ruth Law and Gen. Wood — Bain News Service — 1916-01-01

Ruth Law and Gen. WoodBain News Service · 1916-01-01

Seaplane Accelerates Across Water for Takeoff — 1933

Film Seaplane Accelerates Across Water for TakeoffUnknown maker · 1933

Wright Flying Boat — Bain News Service — 1910-01-01

Wright Flying BoatBain News Service · 1910-01-01