On December 17, 1903, in a remote fishing village in the United States, two bicycle makers flew the first aeroplane, changing the world forever. The Wright brothers’ first flight lasted just 12 seconds and covered a distance of 37 metres—shorter than the length of a modern Airbus A320 or a Boeing 747. It was the first time in history that a controlled, powered flight with a heavier-than-air machine was achieved.
Wilbur Wright (1867–1912) and Orville Wright (1871–1948) first became interested in flight in 1878 when their father, Milton, gave them a rubber-powered toy resembling a helicopter. Fifteen years later, the brothers opened a bicycle manufacturing and repair business in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio. The skills they developed with bicycles—creating sturdy yet lightweight structures and understanding the importance of balance, control, and air resistance—proved invaluable in building an aeroplane.
By 1899, the Wright brothers were building gliders and learning the laws of aeronautics through experimentation, even creating an aerodynamic wind tunnel in Dayton. By 1903, they were ready to take a giant leap, having designed reliable engines and propellers. They chose the seaside village of Kitty Hawk in North Carolina as their testing ground due to its steady winds and sandy beaches, ideal for landings and minimising the risk of accidents or injuries.
The aeroplane they built, named Flyer 1, was a biplane made of spruce wood. It weighed 341 kilograms, including the pilot, measured 6.5 metres in length, and had a wingspan of 12.3 metres. One wing was slightly longer than the other to ensure greater stability. The engine, designed by their employee Charlie Taylor, borrowed elements from bicycle technology, as car engines of the time were too heavy. The pilot lay face-down and controlled the rudder with a lever.
The first test flight of Flyer 1 took place on December 14, with Wilbur piloting after winning a coin toss. Unfortunately, the plane failed to gain altitude and crashed, though Wilbur emerged unscathed. The damage required three days of repairs.
By December 17, Flyer 1 was ready for a second attempt, with Orville at the controls. At 10:35 a.m., the plane took off under its own power, flew for 12 seconds, and landed safely. Orville Wright had made history. The brothers went on to complete three more flights that day, taking turns piloting. The final flight lasted 59 seconds and covered a distance of 260 metres.
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Source: AP/SanSimera.gr
