The First Flight

Orville and Wilbur Wright were two brothers from Ohio. They dreamed of flying like birds. After years of hard work, they built a flying machine with wings and a small engine. On December 17, 1903, they flew it for the first time. This was the start of air travel.

The Wright Brothers

Wilbur and Orville Wright owned a bicycle shop. They loved to build and fix things. The brothers studied how birds fly to learn about wings. They built gliders first and tested them on windy beaches. Then they added an engine to make a real airplane.

Wilbur Wright, one of the brothers who built the first airplane.
Wilbur Wright, one of the brothers who built the first airplane. (Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright (credited as photographers) [1], [2] / Wikimedia Commons)

The Historic Flight

The first flight happened at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The plane was called the Wright Flyer. Orville flew it for just 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. That day, the brothers made four flights in total. Their invention changed how people travel forever.

Fun Facts

  • The first flight was shorter than the length of a big airplane today.
  • The Wright Flyer had two wings stacked on top of each other.
  • Only five people watched the very first airplane flight.

Did You Know?

The original Wright Flyer is now hanging in a museum in Washington, D.C. Millions of people visit it each year.