First In Flight

On December 17, 1903 the Wright brother’s successfully flew the first heavier-than-air machine in a powered, controlled, and sustained flight at the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  After hundreds of trials, the glider completed four successful flights that day.

The gliders were originally constructed and shipped in from Dayton, Ohio but the assistance from the Outer Bankers was essential and without their efforts there would have been no successful flights.  The Outer Bankers sailed the brother’s back and forth across the sound between Kitty Hawk and Elizabeth City, and carried the gliders up the slipper Kill Devil Hill, from where the gliders took flight.