100 Years of Flight

1903 WRIGHT FLYER

The one that started it all, the Flyer became the first heavier-than-air manned aircraft on Dec. 17, 1903 when Orville Wright took it for a 12-second spin at a makeshift hangar at Kill Devi Hills in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Later in the day, brother Wilbur flew it for 59 seconds. Pilots laid prone while guiding the plane, and twin landing skids begged for a soft touch to ensure a safe landing.

Wingspan: 40 ft. 4 in., Length: 21 ft. 1 in., Height: 13ft. 5 in., Weight: 750 lb. manned, 605 lb. empty.

SANTOS-DUMONT DEMOISELLE

One of the most unique models of pioneering-era planes, the Demoiselle (which means "dragonfly") got its name from its insect-like appearance and ultra-light weight. with a fuselage made of bamboo, the Demoiselle measured less than 20 feet long and weighed only 235 pounds. It was the product of Brazilian-born Alberto Santos-Dumont, who was a lover of flying, not greed, and so he gave away the plane's design to anyone who cared to build it. The Demoiselle big hit with a public awed by flight, but not so much with pilots, who were not as impressed with the plane's performance.

Wingspan: 16 ft. 5 in., Length: 19 ft. 8 in., Top Speed: 62 mph

BLERIOT XI MONOPLANE

The most efficient plane of its day, the Bleriot XI was an inspiration for a decade of monoplane design. Louis Bleriot piloted the XI, open cockpit and all, during his famous English Channel crossing on July 25, 1909. His achievement was widely publicized and everyone from sportsmen to the military lined up to buy the Bleriot XI. More than 130 models were built before being phased out after the early part of WWI.

Wingspan: 25 ft. 6 in., Length: 26 ft. 3 in., Height: 8 ft. 10 in., Weight: 661 lbs.

LZ-129 HINDENBURG

At 804 feet long, just 78 short of the similarly doomed Titanic, the Hindenburg was the longest of Germany's famed zeppelins. Equipped with two decks, enough room for 72 passengers and, curiously, a smoking room, the Hindenburg was supposed to be a model for future international passenger transportation. But on May 6, 1937, the dirigible met its fiery demise in Lakehurst, N.J. The cause remains a mystery to this day.

LOCKHEED MODEL 10 ELECTRA

Originally built in 1934, the all-metal Electra was light, fast and luxurious for its day. A limited amount of passengers experienced the luxury of the fastest and longest flights to date, while enjoying heating and sound insulation. In all, 149 Model 10s were built.

Wingspan: 55 ft., Length: 38 ft. 7 in., Weight: 9,750 lbs. Passengers: 10, Crew: 2

DOUGLAS DC-3/C-47

Graceful yet highly practical, the Douglas DC-3 was the most successful passenger aircraft of the 1930s and was hugely popular even during the early days of jet airliners in the 1960s. By 1939, three out of every four American airline passengers traveled in a DC-3. It was adapted for military service during World War II as the C-47 transport — nicknamed the "Gooney Bird" — and during the war the more than 9,000 C-47s in service carried gliders, cargo and paratroopers and performed numerous other tasks. Many are still maintained and flown today.

Wingspan: 95 ft., Length: 64 ft. 6 in., Cruising Speed: 185 mph

BOEING 314 CLIPPER

The Boeing Model 314 Clipper, designed and built in the 1930s, was a huge flying boat that set a new standard for luxury and passenger flight. Made famous by Pan Am's China Clipper airliner, the 314 featured four passenger cabins, flush toilets and in some cases even accommodated a bridal suite. In 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the first flight by a President in office aboard a Model 314, and the Clipper ferried men and material during World War II. The 314 represented the largest commercial aircraft ever built for nearly 30 years after its introduction.

Wingspan: 152 ft., Length: 104 ft., Cruising Speed: 183 mph

CONCORDE

While only 16 production aircraft were built, the Concorde is world-famous as the first passenger airliner to cruise at twice the speed of sound. The jet was produced through a partnership between the French and British governments. Air France and British Airways put the aircraft into service in 1976, but environmental pressures and the rising cost of jet fuel deterred many prospective buyers, and the aircraft is scheduled to be retired in late 2003. Despite the lack of mass service, supersonic passenger flight via Concorde will always be a hallmark of luxury and technological progress.

Wingspan: 83 ft. 10 in., Length: 202 ft. 4 in., Top speed: Mach 2.04 (1,350 mph)

BOMBARDIER LEARJET

Grown out of the Swiss American Aviation Corporation's projected P-16 fighter-bomber, William Powell Lear's Learjet ushered in the era of private jet as status symbol. The Learjet demonstrated advanced performance for a private aircraft during its first flight in 1964. A Learjet flew from Los Angeles to New York and back in under 11 hours in 1965 and in the 1970s was cleared to fly at up to 51,000 ft., higher than jet airliners of the time. The Learjet has undergone many design changes over the years and today remains part of the Montréal-based Bombardier aircraft empire.

Wingspan: 47 ft. 10 in., Length: 52 ft. 8 in., Cruising speed: 538 mph

BOEING 747

The world's largest, heaviest and most powerful airliner grew out of an ambitious partnership between Boeing and Pan Am in the 1960s. Designed to carry twice the load of any existing jetliner at the time, the 747 "Jumbo Jet" entered commercial service in 1970 and remains in production as the 747-400 today. It typically carries 409 passengers in a unique three-class seating arrangement. Perhaps the world's most famous 747 is Air Force One, the specially modified model 747-200B used by the President of the United States.

Wingspan: 211 ft. 5 in., Length: 231 ft. 10 in., Cruising speed: 575 mph