December 17 in American History

December 17, 1903 — the Wright brothers fly

On the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, powered airplane flight — 12 seconds, 120 feet. Two bicycle mechanics from Ohio had solved a problem that had defeated humanity for all of history. Within 66 years, Americans would fly to the Moon.

Common Questions

What happened on December 17 in American history?

In 1903: the Wright brothers fly. On the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, powered airplane flight — 12 seconds, 120 feet.

Why is December 17 significant?

On the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, powered airplane flight — 12 seconds, 120 feet. Two bicycle mechanics from Ohio had solved a problem that had defeated humanity for all of history. Within 66 years, Americans would fly to the Moon.

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