THE FIRST FLYER
The 1903 Flyer was pioneered as the first ever-successful aircraft designed and built by Wilbur and Orville Wright or better known as the Wright brothers. Built in 1903 the flyer was flown four times on December 17th, 1903 near Kill Devils Hill, North Carolina. The design and construction of the flyer plane was highly influenced by gliders that the brothers have built between 1900 and 1902. Their last glider led directly to the design of the Wright Flyer itself. Now on display at the Air & Space Museum it is the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard.
- FAMOUS PILOTS: WILBUR & ORVILLE WRIGHT
- WHERE FLOWN: DEVILS HILL, NORTH CAROLINA
- FIRST FLIGHT: 17 DECEMBER 1903
- RETIRED: 1905
HISTORIAL
- WINGSPAN: 40FT 4IN
- LENGTH: 21FT 1IN
- MAX SPEED: 30 MPH
- ALTITUDE RECORD: 30FT
- FLIGHTS: 3
SPECIFICATIONS
After the first day airborne, the 1903 Wright Flyer never flew again. The aircraft sustained such heavy damage during its first flight that it was beyond repair.
Neil Armstrong carried a piece of the Wright Flyer with him to the moon.
The brothers never married. Wilbur told reporters that he didn’t have time for both a wife and an airplane.