Celebrating flight. It's Wright Brothers day!

Albus_Scope
Albus_Scope Posts: 8,390 Scope Online Community Coordinator
edited December 17 in Coffee lounge

Wright Brothers Day commemorates the first successful flights in a heavier than air, mechanically propelled airplane.

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Orville and Wilbur Wright made that first successful flight on December 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. While other inventors created planes that flew, Orville and Wilbur invented the first mechanically propelled airplane. Those inventors who came before them inspired the Wright brothers in many ways, too.

From a young age, Orville Wright and his brother, Wilbur, developed a fascination with flight. Inspired by a rubber band propelled helicopter created by the inventor, Alphonse Penaud, the brothers dedicated their lives to the invention. They first found success manufacturing bicycles, including the Van Cleve and St. Clair.


They never lost interest in flight and continued to develop designs. By 1902, the future aviators were making progress with their gliders and nearing a successful mechanical flight. They sold their bicycle business and on December 17, 1903, achieved their goal.

A picture of the first manned air flight by the Wright brothers.

Wright Brothers Day also recognizes other accomplishments in aviation history. Many exciting accomplishments, adventure, and daring heroism take place in aviation. In fact, numerous museums and landmarks around the world will walk you through aviation’s impressive timeline. But more locally, why not check out The Royal War Museum in Duxford? It's Britain's largest aviation museum after all. 😉

I'll finish on a quick, fun fact for you all; The wingspan of the Boeing 747 is 120 feet, which is longer than the original Wright Brothers flight!

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