After years of work, we finally succeeded. At 10:35 this morning, with Wilbur watching, I made the first powered flight in history. The machine rose from the ground and flew for 12 seconds, covering 120 feet before landing.
The wind was blowing about 27 miles per hour, which made takeoff difficult but helped keep us in the air. My heart was pounding as the Flyer lifted off. The controls were tricky, and the nose kept rising and falling, but I managed to keep us airborne.
We made four flights today. On the final one, Wilbur flew for 59 seconds and covered 852 feet. By afternoon, a gust of wind damaged the Flyer, ending our experiments for the year. Still, we have proven that human flight is possible. I cannot wait to write to Father with the news.
On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright changed the world forever. At Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the brothers achieved what many believed impossible: powered, controlled flight in a heavier-than-air machine.
The Wright Brothers had spent years designing and testing their aircraft. Their first successful flight lasted just 12 seconds, but it represented one of humanity's greatest achievements. By the end of that historic day, they had completed four flights, with the longest lasting 59 seconds.
The brothers chose Kitty Hawk because of its steady winds and soft, sandy beaches for landing. Their careful scientific approach and determination made them pioneers of aviation. Today, they are remembered as the inventors of the airplane, and their achievement opened the door to modern air travel.