December 1 , 2003

RDU sculpture serves as regional ICON celebrating flight

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority plans to unveil a regional Icon on December 17, 2003 to commemorate 100 years of powered flight.

Designed by architect and artist Wellington Reiter, the ICON honors the Wright Brothers first flight from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. It also serves as a symbol of flight for the Raleigh-Durham region meant to inspire future generations to carry on the legacy begun by these aviation pioneers.

The sculpture features a 120-ft. x 40-ft. ellipse representing the distance of the Wrights’ first flight and a 50-foot tall tower, symbolizing man’s aspiration to reach for the sky. Two wing-like forms symbolizing the Wright brothers and the process of travel - time, movement and return - serve as the primary supports for the ellipse. The sculpture is illuminated by a combination of LED and spot lighting.

The cities of Durham and Raleigh and the counties of Durham and Wake, along with the Airport Authority, funded the project. The Icon is located adjacent to the entrance of the airport’s parking garage and Terminal Boulevard, making it highly visible to inbound airport customers.

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