First successful flight of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Flyer" class="extiw" title="en:Wright Flyer">Wright Flyer</a>, by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers" class="extiw" title="en:Wright brothers">Wright brothers</a>. The machine traveled 120 ft (36.6 m) in 12 seconds at 10:35 a.m. at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Hawk,_North_Carolina" class="extiw" title="en:Kitty Hawk, North Carolina">Kitty Hawk</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" class="extiw" title="en:North Carolina">North Carolina</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Wright" class="extiw" title="en:Orville Wright">Orville Wright</a> was at the controls of the machine, lying prone on the lower wing with his hips in the cradle which operated the wing-warping mechanism. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Wright" class="extiw" title="en:Wilbur Wright">Wilbur Wright</a> ran alongside to balance the machine, and just released his hold on the forward upright of the right wing in the photo. The starting rail, the wing-rest, a coil box, and other items needed for flight preparation are visible behind the machine. This was considered "the first sustained and controlled <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/heavier-than-air" class="extiw" title="en:heavier-than-air">heavier-than-air</a>, powered flight" by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_A%C3%A9ronautique_Internationale" class="extiw" title="en:Fédération Aéronautique Internationale">Fédération Aéronautique Internationale</a>.
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:John_T._Daniels" class="extiw" title="w:en:John T. Daniels"><span title="American photographer (1873-1948)">John T. Daniels</span></a>
</bdi>
1903-12-17
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