Five people witnessed the first flight, including John Daniels who took the famous first flight photo.
Over the next few years, they continued to develop their aircraft. However, they were conscious of needing to gain successful patents to make their aircraft commercially viable. They became reluctant to reveal too much about their flights and disliked reporters taking photos of their designs. Their secret approach and competing claims by other aircraft designers meant that for many years their inventions and flights were met with either indifference or scepticism. However, in 1908, Wilbur began public demonstrations in Le Mans, France. His ability to effortlessly make turns and manoeuvre the aircraft caused a sea change in public opinion, and the display of technically challenging flights caused widespread public acclaim and enthusiasm.
In 1909, Wilbur made a public flight up the Hudson river in New York, circling the Statue of Liberty. The 33 minute flight, witnessed by 1 million New Yorkers, established their fame in America.