Wright Brothers Day
About Wright Brothers Day
When is Wright Brothers Day? This holiday is always observed on December 17
Throughout the ages, Man has been fascinated with the idea of flying like birds in the sky. Since those early days, many contraptions and devices were built, none of which allowed for little more than a few moments in the air. While some success occurred with gliders and hot air balloons, true flight proved elusive for thousands of years. Finally, this all changed in a big way on December 17, 1903. On this momentous occasion, aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright built and flew the first airplane to successfully defy gravity. As a result, we celebrate this December 17 holiday as Wright Brothers Day.
One of the first attempts at flying was thousands of years ago. According to ancient Greek mythology, Icarus and his father Daedalus were eager to escape a prison where King Minos held them on the island of Crete. Daedalus, an inventor, created two sets of wings made of wax and feathers. During their escape, Daedalus warned his son not to fly too close to the sun or the sun would melt the wax. Icarus, emboldened by their escape, flew closer and closer to the sun. Then, the wax melted and the feathers came off. Icarus plunged to his death in the sea. Since that time, inventors and dreamers have strived to fly like an eagle.
A Historic Aeronautical Event
At the turn of the 20th Century, the race was on to create and build the world’s first successful heavier-than-air flying machine. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright succeeded. They flew their “Wright Flyer” from a beach near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The process leading to this successful flight was long and tedious. From 1899 through 1903, the Wright brothers conducted numerous tests. They developed and refined several theories on aviation, too. First, in 1899, they tested some of their aeronautical theories on kites. In 1900, they began testing them on gliders. Then, they progressed on to the construction of the plane and engine. They named the plane the “Wright Flyer”.
Finally, at 10:35 am on the morning of December 17, 1903, Orville Wright took off from the sandy beach of Kitty Hawk. The first flight was 120 feet long and lasted just 12 seconds. The plane flew at 6.8 mph. Both Wilbur and Orville Wright flew twice each on that day. They learned how to fly and control the airplane as they went. On the fourth and final flight of the day, with Wilbur at the controls, the airplane’s 59-second flight traversed 852 feet.
Over the course of the next several years, the Wright brothers continued to construct new planes, improving on both design and especially control systems.
Wright Brothers Amazing Flying Machine
Use this Aeronautical trivia and fun facts to amaze your friends.
- The Wright brothers first patent was not for creating the airplane itself. Rather, it was for their revolutionary aerodynamic control system. This three-axis system maintains equilibrium.
- They used a gas-powered engine.
- The engine was water-cooled.
- Prior to flying their airplane, they used a kite, and later a glider, to test some of their aeronautical theories.
- They named the airplane the “Wright Flyer”. Later models became the “Wright Flyer II’ and “Flyer III”.
- The Wright brothers lived in Dayton, Ohio.
- Prior to their aviation endeavors, the brothers owned a bicycle sales and repair shop in Dayton, Ohio. Later, they left the bicycle business and went into the aviation field.
How to Celebrate Wright Brothers Day
Here are some great ways to celebrate and enjoy Wright Brothers Day:
- Take a ride in an airplane.
- Watch a movie with an airplane theme. There are plenty to choose from.
- Learn how to fly a plane.
- Take the kids to the airport to watch planes take off and land.
- Learn more about the Wright brothers.
- Learn about the history of airplanes.
- Visit an airplane museum.
- If you are in school, consider a career in Aeronautics.
- Take pictures of planes. Then, share them on social media.
Today's Quotes
“To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly an airplane is everything.” – – Otto Lilienthal
“To be absolutely alone for the first time in the cockpit of a plane hundreds of feet above the ground is an experience never to be forgotten.” – – Charles Lindbergh
History and Origin of Wright Brothers Day
On December 21, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared December 17 as Wright Brothers Day. Then, in 1963, the United States Congress made this a permanent holiday. However, they did not proclaim this December 17 holiday to be a “National” day.
We celebrate this holiday annually.
This Day in History
In addition to today’s holiday, here are some of other things that happened on this day:
- Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” was published. (1843)
- A prize of 100,000 francs is offered for communications with extraterrestrials. Martians are excluded because it is considered too easy. (1900)
- Pope Francis was born on this day in 1936.
More December 17 Holidays
In addition to Wright Brothers Day, here is another December holiday for you to celebrate and enjoy:
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More About Today
This Day in History – Indeed, many other important events occurred on this date.
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Ecards Send a free Ecard for Wright Brothers Day or just about any December calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Undoubtedly, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Recipe of the Day: Pumpkin Cornbread
Holiday Insights, where every day in December is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Thus, please join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? Furthermore, in addition to Wright Brothers Day, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. and many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. December holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.