The Birth of Human Flight: The Wright Brothers' First Powered, Sustained, and Controlled Flight
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made history by successfully piloting the first powered, sustained, and controlled flight in a heavier-than-air machine. The flight took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and lasted for 12 seconds, covering a distance of 120 feet. The Wright brothers' achievement marked the beginning of the era of human flight and paved the way for future advancement in aviation technologies. The Wright brothers, who were bicycle manufacturers and mechanics, had been interested in the idea of human flight for many years. They began experimenting with gliders in the late 1800s, using them to study the principles of flight. In 1901, they built and tested a glider that had a wingspan of 17 feet and could carry a pilot. The glider performed well in the air, but the brothers were not satisfied with its performance and decided to build a powered aircraft. In 1903, the Wright brothers built the Wr...