When did the Wright brothers fly the first airplane?

Wilbur and Orville Wright flew their first airplane on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Piloted by Wilbur, the plane flew 852 feet for 59 seconds, ushering in a new era of travel and innovation.

Although the brothers began their careers owning a bike shop and designing and fixing bicycles, they found inspiration in the German aviator Otto Lilienthal. Following Lilenthal's death in a glider accident, the Wright brothers began experimenting with aviation.

The Wright brothers sold their first planes in Europe in 1908. In 1909, the brothers sold their first planes in the United States.