In 1906, Alberto Santos Dumont makes the first successful public flight of a powered airplane with the 14 Bis

• Original photograph of 14 Bis during its first flight.
• Inscriptions in English, partly tapuscript, partly handwritten (which we were unable to decipher).
• 18.5 cm x 16 cm.
• November 12, 1906.
• Good condition conservation, except the corners.
• Unique piece.
  

On November 12, 1906, Santos Dumont, a pioneer of Brazilian aviation, achieved a historic feat: he made the first recognized public flight in an airplane, without external assistance for takeoff, with his aircraft 14-bis. This flight took place in Paris, at the Bagatelle field, in the Bois de Boulogne. During this event, Santos Dumont covered a distance of 220 meters at an altitude of about 6 meters, setting a new world distance record and confirming the 14-bis' ability to fly autonomously. This feat is considered a milestone in the history of aviation, as it represented a significant advance in attempts at powered flight. The 14-bis was the first airplane to be certified by the Aéro-Club de France, which distinguished this flight from previous attempts by the Wright brothers, which had not yet been publicly demonstrated in Europe.

The black and white photograph shows the historic flight of Santos Dumont in his 14-bis aircraft, which took place on November 12, 1906. The image captures the plane with its rectangular structure and wide wings in full flight, with Santos Dumont visible in the open cockpit, in a position to control. In the background, trees can be seen indicating the outdoor setting of Bagatelle Park in Paris, where the event took place. The typewritten caption at the bottom highlights the flight as the “First Public Flight” of a motorized aircraft. The condition of the photo, with worn edges and a handwritten annotation, suggests that it is a record preserved in a historical context, highlighting the importance of this moment as a milestone in the history of aviation.

This exceptional document found in England represents the first successful public flight of a motorized airplane, carried out by Santos Dumont in 1906, a fundamental milestone in the world history of aviation.