π¬ The Wright brothers' first flight (1903)
The brothers had started out running a bicycle shop.
Where: Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, USA
Read about Wright Flyer, Kill Devil Hills β π See it on the 3D globe
π On This Day: December 17
December 17, 1903: The Wright brothers' first flight. On this day in 1903, on sand dunes near Kitty Hawk, USA, the Wright brothers' airplane, the Flyer, rose into the air. The first flight lasted just 12 seconds and covered about 37 m, but it was the first time a person flew in a powered airplane.
β¨ More events on this day
- 1790 π§ Workers in Mexico City's main square dug up the Aztec calendar stone, a giant carved disc more than 3.5 metres across.
- 1865 π¨ Franz Schubert's 'Unfinished' Symphony was performed for the first time in Vienna, more than 40 years after he wrote it. It has only two movements.
- 1935 π‘ The Douglas DC-3 airliner made its first flight from Santa Monica, California. It became one of the most important passenger planes in history.
π§ Question of the day
How long did the Wright brothers' first flight last?
- 1 second
- 12 seconds
- One hour
Show the answer
Answer: 12 seconds
π Landmarks that opened on December 17
Questions
What happened on December 17?
December 17, 1903: The Wright brothers' first flight. It happened in Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, USA.
Which landmarks opened on December 17?
Museum of Tomorrow (opened 2015).
In the game, the "Today on Earth" panel shows this story on its day, with a question to answer and a place to fly to.
More days in December
- December 1
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