America 250: Wright Brothers

Wilbur and Orville Wright's first successful powered flight in history in 1903 laid the foundation for modern aviation.

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio, achieved the first successful powered flight in history. Their aircraft flew for 12 seconds over the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. It was the first controlled, sustained flight of a heavier-than-air machine powered by its own engine. Before their aviation success, the Wright brothers owned and operated a bicycle business. They used the mechanical skills and profits from that business to fund and develop their experiments. Their breakthrough laid the foundation for modern aviation.