Wright Brothers First Flight

The first flight was flown by Orville Wright and lasted 12 seconds. On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright piloted the first powered airplane 20 feet above a wind-swept beach in North Carolina. The inaugural flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. Three more flights were made that day with Orville's brother Wilbur piloting the longest one which lasted 59 seconds over a distance of 852 feet. Their historic aircraft is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.