The Wright Brothers' 12 Second Flight

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]The first powered airflight on December [music] 17th, 1903 1903.

[00:00:08]A 12-second flight in Wright brothers biplane.

[00:00:12]The flyer marked the birth of flight in a heavier-than-air machine.

[00:00:19]Brother Orville's and Wilbur Wright built their 60 605-pound airplane from scratch, including the propeller and the 12 horsepower engine.

[00:00:32]They selected the site near Kitty Hawk because of the steady winds that would keep them aloft and sandy banks that would soften the impact of landing.

[00:00:43]With Orville in the pilot seat and Wilbur running alongside, the flyer lifted into the air for the first time at 10:35 a.m. on December 17th, 1703.

[00:00:56]The first flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 ft.