On this date in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright took the first successful man-powered airplane flights near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The first flight lasted 12 seconds and traveled just over 21 feet, with Orville at the controls. Taking turns, the brothers made four more flights that day, the last traveling, with Wilbur at the controls this time, traveled 852 feet and flew for 59 seconds. Following the flights, a strong gusts of wind toppled the Flyer and damaged it beyond repair. It never flew again.
Below is a documentary I wrote and produced in 2003 for WHIO-TV and the Centennial Celebration of Flight in Dayton.
Cox Media Group
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