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1903: The Wright Bros. historic flight in Kitty Hawk, NC
The archives of the National Weather Service report that Wilbur and Orville Wright made four brief flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with their first powered aircraft on December 17, 1903. After having success with their 5-foot biplane kite, the brothers realized the weather conditions in Dayton, OH, where their bicycle workshop was located and where they worked on heavier than air aircraft were not ideal for their flying experiments. They wrote the National Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C. requesting a list of suitable places on the east coast of the United States where winds were constant. The Wright Brothers received the following response from Joseph Dosher, who staffed the Weather Bureau office, and wrote in August of 1900 regarding the suitability of Kitty Hawk. "To Mr. Wilbur Wright, Dayton Ohio Dear Sir, In reply to yours of the 3rd, I will say the beach here is about one mile wide clear of trees or high hills, and islands for nearly sixty miles south. Conditions: the wind blows mostly from the North and Northeast September and October which is nearly straight down this piece of land. Giving you many miles of a steady wind with a free sweep. I am sorry to say that you could not rent a house here. So, you will have to bring tents. You could obtain frame. The only way to reach Kitty Hawk is from Roanoke Island N.C. in a small sail boat. From your letter I believe you would find it here like you wish. Will be pleased at any time to give you any information. Yours very respectfully.” For those of you, like me, who have been to Kitty Hawk this description from 120 years ago of the landscape and weather conditions hold true to this day. On December 17, with the winds were averaging more than 20 mph, Orville took a flight for a total distance of 120 feet. I was the first heavier than air flight that carried a human being. The flight lasted all of the 12 seconds – but Orville Wright flew into history.
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The archives of the National Weather Service report that Wilbur and Orville Wright made four brief flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with their first powered aircraft on December 17, 1903. After having success with their 5-foot biplane kite, the brothers realized the weather conditions in Dayton, OH, where their bicycle workshop was located and where they worked on heavier than air aircraft were not ideal for their flying experiments. They wrote the National Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C. requesting a list of suitable places on the east coast of the United States where winds were constant. The Wright Brothers received the following response from Joseph Dosher, who staffed the Weather Bureau office, and wrote in August of 1900 regarding the suitability of Kitty Hawk. "To Mr. Wilbur Wright, Dayton Ohio Dear Sir, In reply to yours of the 3rd, I will say the beach here is about one mile wide clear of trees or high hills, and islands for nearly sixty miles south. Conditions: the wind blows mostly from the North and Northeast September and October which is nearly straight down this piece of land. Giving you many miles of a steady wind with a free sweep. I am sorry to say that you could not rent a house here. So, you will have to bring tents. You could obtain frame. The only way to reach Kitty Hawk is from Roanoke Island N.C. in a small sail boat. From your letter I believe you would find it here like you wish. Will be pleased at any time to give you any information. Yours very respectfully.” For those of you, like me, who have been to Kitty Hawk this description from 120 years ago of the landscape and weather conditions hold true to this day. On December 17, with the winds were averaging more than 20 mph, Orville took a flight for a total distance of 120 feet. I was the first heavier than air flight that carried a human being. The flight lasted all of the 12 seconds – but Orville Wright flew into history.
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