Wright Flyer

The Wright Flyer was the first successful powered airplane, built by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903. It featured a lightweight wooden structure, a wingspan of 12 meters (40 feet), and was powered by a small gasoline engine. Its design relied on careful control of pitch, roll, and yaw through movable wings and a tail, allowing the pilot to steer. On December 17, 1903, it made the first controlled, sustained flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, lasting 12 seconds and covering 120 feet. This achievement laid the foundation for modern aviation by demonstrating controlled powered flight.