They had expanded on a number of concepts from their previous work to design the world’s first airplane, the Wright Flyer.

The machine had achieved controlled, sustained flight with a pilot on board, but only after a good deal of trial and error. During its first test, the flying machine made it 40 feet down the beach, staggered up, stalled, and crashed into the sand, damaging the forward elevator. The Flyer was airborne for just 3.5 seconds in this trial, but its power and responsiveness encouraged confidence.

Three days later, December 17, 1903, necessary repairs had been administered and the brothers proceeded to the beach for a second attempt. This time their invention lasted 12 seconds in the air and collided with the sand 120 feet away. Nonetheless, man had flown.
Three more tests were run that day, slowly progressing each time to 59 seconds over 852 feet of travel. The Wright Brothers’ goal had been accomplished.

All successful planes since that day have incorporated basic design elements of 1903 Wright Flyer. In 1904 and 1905, the brothers’ invention was refined to a more practical state.

The two small town businessmen had invented the airplane, a technology that would define the 20th century. The age of flying had come at last.

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