First successful flight of a motorized aircraft by the Wright brothers

Posted by Between the Lines • Profile • 12/17/20 at 04:14PM • History • Public Interest • See more by Between the Lines

The plane traveled 120 ft (36.6 m) in 12 seconds at 10:35 a.m. at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville Wright was at the controls, lying prone on the lower wing with his hips in the cradle which operated the wing-warping mechanism. Wilbur Wright ran alongside to balance the plane, and just released his hold on the forward upright of the right wing in the photo. The starting rail, the wing-rest, a coil box, and other items needed for flight preparation are visible behind the machine. This was considered "the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air, powered flight"

The Wright brothers’ flight on December 17, 1903 remains one of the most important moments in aviation history. Explore what happened on this day in history by browsing other events from December 17, or view the full historical record of the Wright brothers’ first successful powered flight and its lasting impact on human travel.

First successful flight of a motorized aircraft by the Wright brothers - December 17, 1903