Wednesday marks the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on 17 December 1903. Orville, who flew the first 12s, 37m (120ft) flight, and Wilbur are credited with achieving the first powered heavier-than-air controlled and sustained flight, completing four flights that day. Their four-year design and test programme included windtunnel testing and led to a proven three-axis control system that is the basis of that used on today's aircraft. The US Smithsonian Institute's National Air & Space Museum is opening its new Steven F Udvar-Hazy Centre exhibition hall at Washington's Dulles airport on 15 December, and the Experimental Aircraft Association is staging a re-enactment of the first flight at Kitty Hawk on the day itself.
Source: Flight International