Wright Flyer

aviation · invention · pioneers

First powered flight. On December 17, 1903, the Wright Flyer made history by becoming the first manned aircraft to fly under its own power and stay controlled in the air. This incredible moment happened at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Built by brothers. Orville and Wilbur Wright, two bicycle mechanics from Ohio, designed and constructed the Wright Flyer themselves. They worked together as a team to solve the puzzle of powered flight.

Surprisingly small. The Wright Flyer was tiny by today's standards, it had a wingspan of just 40 feet and weighed about 605 pounds. Despite its small size, it proved that controlled, powered flight was possible.

Short but mighty. The first flight lasted only 12 seconds and covered just 120 feet, which is shorter than a modern airplane is long. But those few seconds changed the world forever.

Scientific method. The Wrights carefully studied bird wings and tested hundreds of designs using a wind tunnel before building their airplane. Their scientific approach is why they succeeded where others had failed.