"Original Wright Brothers 1903 Aeroplane (‘Kitty Hawk’) in first flight, December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, NC. Orville Wright at controls. Wilbur Wright at right (First flight was 12 seconds)" By Orville Wright and John T. Daniels, December 17, 1903 (165-WW-713-6); Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs; Record Group 165; National Archives.

I've been sitting here trying to think of something insightful to write about the significance of this event and the words are escaping me.


I guess I'll start with "thank you." For those men to have had the imagination, determination, and sheer will to follow their dream is something of which I will always stand in awe. I'm not sure even these visionaries could ever truly understand the impact their efforts would impart upon the world.

I have been to Kill Devil Hills, stood at the site of the first flight and found myself daydreaming what that day must have been like for the Wright brothers.

I can only further imagine the joy and emotion of sending these words later via telegraph to their father:

I have always wanted to fly since I can remember. I rode in planes with a friend of my father's when I was a kid. I soloed a Cessna 152 at age 17. In my mid-thirties I not only am a pilot, but own and operate a flight school sharing my passion for aviation with family, friends, and strangers alike. All of which is made possible as a result of the vision and accomplishment of these two men.

Thank you.

 

Awesome Post! Thanks for sharing. I hadn't realized it was today.

 

Great post!

I remember the day I got my first book about aviation and I still remember reading about the first flight with engine power ever and it said that the flight distance roughly equaled the wingspan of a Boeing 747 - needless to say,I was greatly impressed

 

Makes you wonder how far we'll have advanced 106 years from now...