5 Wright Brothers Facts That Changed History

2. The First Flight Was Short but Historic

On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, history was made.

• Orville Wright flew the first airplane
• Flight time: 12 seconds
• Distance: 120 feet

Though short, it was the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air machine with a human onboard.

That same day, they made four flights, with the longest lasting 59 seconds and covering 852 feet.