Wright Brothers National Memorial

   On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, made the first successful controlled flight of an airplane. The first flight was made by Orville and the plane traveled only 120 feet. Wilbur took a second flight 175ft, and Orville took the third flight 200ft. Wilbur made the longest flight of the day on the fourth attempt, going 852ft in nearly a minute of airtime. The accomplishment barely made the news.