First Human Flight
On December 17th 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright, two brothers from America, made the first sustained human flight. The first flight, which took place at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, was flown by Orville, the younger brother, and lasted just 12 seconds. Then Wilbur took to the air and managed to fly 175 feet, followed by Orville who managed another 200 feet. The flights were witnessed by five people and are described as being the first controlled, powered and sustained human flights.

This picture shows the aeroplane they used for these first flights - the Flyer, which was built by the brothers. The brothers invented and built several planes and gliders - an interest thought to have been sparked by their father's gift to them as young boys of a toy helicopter made of paper, bamboo and cork. The Wright Flyer is now at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.