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Timezone: America/New_York
Date: Dec 17 2023
Time: All Day

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USA

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Date

Dec 17 2023

Time

All Day

Wright Brothers Day

December 17th is Wright Brothers Day! It’s a day to celebrate the amazing accomplishment of Orville and Wilbur Wright, who made the first successful mechanically propelled flight in history.

We all remember in our youth we wanted to be pilots and fly airplanes but had to do with paper planes which were great, but the Wright Brothers managed to build their own plane and fly it.

They were not the only ones building airplanes but they were the first to fly to control the plane by using their hands and feet.

The Wright brothers had a passion for flying and wanted to share it with the world. They opened the Wright brothers Flying School in 1910 and taught people from all walks of life how to fly.

In 1912, Wilbur Wright died of typhoid fever. Orville Wright continued to work on improving aircraft design but sold the business.

Orville Wright died in 1948, but his legacy continues.

Every year on December 17th, we celebrate Wright Brothers Day to remember their incredible achievement.

There is already so much written on the Wright Brothers, the first flight, Kity Hawk that we look at the impact they had on aviation and it is needless to say that this is massive.

Wright Brother’s Impact on Aviation

The Wright brothers are widely credited with changing the course of history by inventing and flying the world’s first successful motorized airplane. Their achievement launched the Aviation Age and spawned a new industry that has irrevocably altered global commerce, communication, and transportation. Which we celebrate on National Aviation Day.

Inventing the airplane was only one part of the Wrights’ contribution to aviation. They also developed the three-axis control system, which is still used on virtually every airplane today, and pioneered many of the flight maneuvers that are the foundation of modern aerobatics.

The Wrights’ story is one of humble beginnings. They were not born into wealth or privilege; their father was a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Undeterred by their lack of resources, the brothers saved every penny they could until they had enough to build their first airplane.

The Wright brothers’ journey from bicycle shop owners to aviation pioneers is an inspiring example of what can be accomplished through hard work, determination, and perseverance.

Since 1963 the USA honors Wilbur and Orville Wright on the 17th of December.

How can I participate in honoring The Wright Brothers?

Although December 17th, Wright Brothers Day, is not an official holiday, there are many ways you can participate in honoring The Wright Brothers. Here are a few suggestions:

Educate others about the Wrights and their accomplishments
Attend or watch a reenactment of the first flight
Visit the Wright Brothers National Museum in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Fly a kite in honor of the Wrights (make sure to do it safely!)
Write about or take pictures of your local airport or airfield and share on social media using the hashtag #WrightBrothersDay
Share your favorite Wright Brothers story or quote on social media using the hashtag #WrightBrothersDay
Share your own Aviation story or photos on social media using the hashtag #WrightBrothersDay
Do something new or challenging that takes you out of your comfort zone, just like the Wrights did when they took their first flight!

What kind of gift can I give my aviation-loving friend?

If you have a friend or loved one who is passionate about aviation, there are many great gift options to choose from and give on Wright Brothers Day. Here are a few ideas:

A model airplane or helicopter
A book about the Wright brothers or another famous aviator
A flight simulator game
Tickets to an air show or aviation museum
A t-shirt or hat with an aviation-themed design
A set of Aviation-themed playing cards
A jigsaw puzzle featuring an aviation scene

No matter how you choose to celebrate Wright Brothers Day, we hope you take some time to remember the extraordinary accomplishments of Wilbur and Orville Wright. They changed the world in a way that we are still feeling the effects of today, and their legacy continues to inspire people of all ages to reach for the skies.

Wright Brothers Facts

The Wright brothers were not the first to build and fly an aircraft, but they were the first to invent a practical and successful airplane.
The Wright brothers flew their first powered flight on December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The flight lasted just 12 seconds and covered 120 feet (37 meters).
Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871. Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867.
The Wright brothers were two of seven children. Their father, Milton Wright, was a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
The Wrights opened their bicycle shop, the Wright Cycle Exchange, in 1892.
The Wright brothers built their first airplane, the Flyer, in their bicycle shop.
The Wright brothers made more than 1,000 flights with their various versions of the Flyer.
The Wright brothers’ famous flight at Kitty Hawk was not the first powered flight; that distinction belongs to German engineer Otto Lilienthal, who flew gliders in the 1890s.
The Wright brothers were not the first to build and fly a heavier-than-air powered machine; that distinction belongs to British inventor George Cayley, who built and flew a glider in 1849.
elongs to British inventor George Cayley, who built and flew a glider in 1849.-Orville Wright was the first person to pilot a powered airplane. He made his historic 12-second, 120-foot flight on December 17, 1903.
The Wright brothers were the first to invent a practical and successful airplane. The U.S. government awarded them the first contract for a heavier-than-air flying machine in 1908.
The Wright brothers’ legacy continues to inspire people of all ages to pursue their dreams and reach for the skies.