Second Pilot To Fly

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Orville Wright is commonly known as the first person to fly, but Wilbur Wright made the first attempt.
  • Wilbur's first attempt on December 14, 1903, ended in a crash.
  • Orville made the second flight on December 17, 1903, covering 120 feet.
  • Wilbur subsequently made the longest flight of the day, reaching 175 feet.
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You probably know the answer to this one; the first to fly was Orville Wright. The second to take to the air was his brother and the co-inventor of the airplane, Wilbur Wright. Wilbur would’ve been the first to the air, on Dec. 14, 1903, but on that first flight attempt, he stalled the plane and crashed it. After repairs, the brothers tried their luck again on Dec. 17, and this time it was Orville’s turn. His 120-foot-long hop is the most famous flight ever. Soon thereafter, it was Wilbur’s turn again, and he made the record-setting longest flight, of 175 feet, though that record only stood for an hour or so.

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