14-bis

Hello, I am a very special airplane. My name is 14-bis. I look a little funny, like a big box kite with wings. A kind man named Alberto Santos-Dumont was my best friend. He built me a long, long time ago, in the year 1906. Alberto had a big dream. He wanted to fly high in the sky, just like the birds do. He would watch them soar and dip and wish he could join them. So, he worked very hard to build me. He wanted me to be strong and light so I could lift up, up, up into the air and make his dream come true.

I will never forget my first big day. It was October 23rd, 1906. The sun was shining on a big green field in a place called Paris, France. So many people came to watch. They were all very curious to see if I could fly. Alberto sat in his special seat and started my engine. Vroom, vroom, vroom, it was very noisy. I felt a little shaky but very excited. I started to roll on my little wheels, going faster and faster across the grass. Then, whoosh. I felt a wonderful lift. My wheels were not on the ground anymore. I was flying. I was really flying through the air. It was only for a little hop, but it felt amazing. All the people on the ground clapped and cheered so loudly. I felt so proud.

My first flight was not very long or very high, but it was a big deal. I showed everyone that it was possible for a machine to fly all by itself. My little hop was like a tiny seed that grew into a giant tree of airplanes. Because of my flight, other clever people were inspired to build bigger and better planes. Now, giant airplanes zoom across the sky every day. They carry people on wonderful adventures all over the world. I am so happy my little hop helped show everyone the way to the clouds.