1. Orville Wright piloted the first powered airplane flight that flew 120 feet lasting 12 seconds over sand dunes at Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk in Dare County, North Carolina on December 17, 1903.
2. His brother Wilbur flew their "Flying Machine" on the same day covering 852 feet over 59 seconds.
3. Thanks to a coin toss, Orville was the first brother airborne. The brothers tossed a coin to see who would first test the Wright Flyer on the sands of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
4. The first flight, by Orville at 10:35 am, of 120 feet (37 m) in 12 seconds, at a speed of only 6.8 miles per hour (10.9 km/h) over the ground, was recorded in a famous photograph.
5. Wilbur and Orville Wright were the sons of Milton Wright, a bishop of the United Brethren in Christ.
1. The Flyer was based on the Wrights' experience testing gliders at Kitty Hawk between 1900 and 1902.
2. Their last glider, the 1902 Glider, led directly to the design of the Flyer.
3. The Wrights built the aircraft in 1903 using giant spruce wood as their construction material.
4. The wings were designed with a 1-in-20 camber.
5. The Wright Flyer (often retrospectively referred to as Flyer I or 1903 Flyer) was the first successful heavier-than-air powered aircraft.