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The Wright brothers’ plane in which they made the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft was the Wright Flyer

January 13, 2025

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Name

The Wright Flyer was also known as the Kitty Hawk, Flyer I, or the 1903 Flyer.
Design

The Wright Flyer was a single-place biplane with a canard (front double elevator) and a rear double rudder. It had two pusher propellers powered by a 12 horsepower gasoline engine.
Flight

The Wright Flyer’s first flight took place on December 17, 1903 at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The flight lasted 12 seconds, covered 120 feet, and reached a top speed of 6.8 miles per hour.
Significance

The Wright Flyer’s flight marked the beginning of the aviation age and established the foundation of aeronautical engineering. The Wright brothers’ three-axis control system allowed the pilot to steer and maintain the aircraft’s equilibrium. This system is still standard on airplanes today.
Preservation

The Wright Flyer is preserved and displayed at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.