December 17th marks the annual United States’ celebration of Wright Brothers Day. It is not a federal holiday. However, it is a public holiday. Wright Bothers Day commemorates Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first successful flight in a heavier than air, mechanically propelled airplane on December 17, 1903.
Wright Brothers Day
Every year the current United States President issues a proclamation inviting Americans to observe Wright Brothers Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Observations include the annual Wright Brothers dinner in Washington D.C. At the dinner, a living American receives the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for “significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States”. Meanwhile, a celebration occurs in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina: where Orville and Wilbur launched their first successful flight. A celebration is also held in Dayton, Ohio: where the brothers were born.
Fascinated By Flight From An Early Age
From the time they were young, flight fascinated both brothers. After discovering a rubber band propelled helicopter created by the inventor, Alphonse Penaud, the brother dedicated their lives to the invention. On December 17, 1903 they brought their dream to life.
December 17, 1903
While the brothers weren’t the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, they were the first to build the world’s first airplane with aircraft controls that enabled them to steer the plane. Their first aircraft, Flyer, took flight for 12 seconds and 120 feet around what is now known as the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Their invention made fixed wing flight possible and paved the way for modern day aeronautics.
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Info Source: NationalDayCalendar.com and TimeandDate.com
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