On December 17, 1903 at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the dream of flight was finally realized by two brothers from Dayton, Ohio known as Wilbur and Orville Wright.
Having experimented with gliders and early wind tunnels between 1900 and 1903, the Wright Brothers’ design of a three-axis control (roll, pitch and yaw) set the standard for all future aircraft design. The Flyer was constructed using spruce for the frame and muslin (a cotton fabric) as covering and the engine was custom built by shop mechanic Charlie Taylor. The engine drove two counter-rotating propellers via drive chains resembling those of bicycles. Later tests would prove the propeller design to be more than 75% efficient.
The decision of who would be the pilot for the first attempt on December 14, 1903, was decided by a coin toss and won by Wilbur. The attempt failed when the Flyer stalled and made a hard landing causing minor damage. After several days of repairs, the Brothers tried again on December 17, 1903. With Orville now at the controls, the Flyer sped down the launch rail and lifted into the air. The first flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 ft. (36.5 m), shorter than the wingspan of a Boeing 747.
Though sometimes debated and challenged, their accomplishments and their legacy serve not only to inspire current and future generations, but laid the foundations for an exciting and continuing endeavor to push beyond all obstacles and boundaries that still defines the American spirit to this very day.
