By Presidential Proclamation, December 17th is Wright Brothers Day. Each year, a proclamation invites the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

The US Code directs that Wright Brothers Day commemorates the first successful flights in a heavier than air, mechanically propelled airplane. Orville and Wilbur Wright made that first successful flight on December 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. While other inventors created planes that flew, Orville and Wilbur invented the first mechanically propelled aeroplane. Those inventors who came before them inspired the Wright brothers in many ways, too.

From a young age, Orville Wright and his brother, Wilbur, developed a fascination with flight. Inspired by a rubber band propelled helicopter created by the inventor, Alphonse Penaud, the brothers dedicated their lives to the invention. They first found success manufacturing bicycles, including the Van Cleve and St. Clair.

They never lost interest in flight and continued to develop designs. By 1902, the future aviators were making progress with their gliders and nearing a successful mechanical flight. They sold their bicycle business, and on December 17, 1903, achieved their goal.

Orville Wright ( August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948 )

Orville Wright made the first flight for 12 seconds and 120 feet around the Wright Brothers National Memorial site, just south of Kitty Hawk on that date. While the Wright Brothers were not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, they are recognized as the first to invent aircraft controls that made the fixed-wing flight possible.

Wilbur Wright  ( April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912 )

More in Flight

Wright Brothers Day also recognizes other accomplishments in aviation history. Many exciting accomplishments, adventure, and daring heroism take place in aviation. In fact, numerous museums and landmarks around the world will walk you through aviation’s impressive timeline. From the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Ohio to March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California, and the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., nearly every state in the U.S. fills the imagination with original and replica planes of the pioneers of flight. Even the early frontier of space flight makes the schedule for aviation enthusiasts! Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center will not disappoint.

Of course, local libraries answer the call with shelves lined with books about every era of aviation. NASA also offers free e-books.

Interesting Aviation Facts

• The wingspan of the 747 is 120 feet, which is longer than the original Wright Brothers flight.
• Food tastes different under cabin pressure in an airplane.
• In the United States, over 6,000 passengers are flying at any given moment.
• For every hour spent flying, you can lose about two cups of water from your body. If you’re traveling cross-country, keep yourself hydrated.
• The President and Vice President of the United States never fly together, nor do they fly with the House of Representatives’ Speaker. Prince Charles never flies with Prince William. Just in case…

WRIGHT BROTHERS DAY HISTORY

A joint resolution of Congress declared December 17, 1963, as Wright Brothers Day. Congress later amended the resolution (77 Stat. 402; U.S.C. 143), designating December 17th of each year as Wright Brothers Day and authorized the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Explore More…

• Wright Brothers Day
• Aviation History Month
• National Amelia Earhart Day
• Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
• National Aviation Day
• National Space Day
• National Aviation Week
• National Astronaut Day
• National Moon Day
• National Balloon Ascension Day
• National Ride the Wind Day
• National Paper Airplane Day
• National Wrong Way Corrigan Day
• National Near Miss Day
• National Meteor Watch Day
• National Space Day
• National Create A Vacuum Day
• Global Sleep Under the Stars Night
• First Contact Day
• Astronomy Day
• National Star Wars Day
• International Dark Sky Weekends
• Great Worldwide Star Count
• Messier Marathon
• International Dalek Remembrance Day
• International Observe the Moon Night
• International Dark Sky Week
• Global Astronomy Month
• Women of Aviation Worldwide Week

HOW TO OBSERVE WRIGHT BROTHERS DAY

Explore the history of flight. While you’re at it, discover other fascinating adventurers, too! Here’re a few names to get you started. 

Legendary Aviators

• AMELIA EARHART – Female aviation pioneer
• BESSIE COLEMAN – First female aviator of both African American and Native American descent
• CHARLES LINDBERGH – first solo trans-Atlantic flight.
• MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN – WWI flying ace, the celebrated “Red Baron”
• JERRIE MOCK – First woman aviator to successfully circumnavigate the globe solo
• HOWARD HUGHES – Aviator, tycoon, movie maker, and all-around eccentric
• CHUCK YEAGER – The test pilot who broke the sound barrier
• YURI GAGARIN – First man in space

Would you like to learn more? We celebrate aviation throughout the calendar. Check out these days, too! 

Are you looking for other ways to celebrate the day? Consider these options.

• Read about the Wright Brothers and other aviation accomplishments. We recommend The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, Wilbur and Orville: A Biography of the Wright Brothers by Fred Howard, Flight: 100 Years of Aviation by R.G. Grant.
• Watch a documentary. A couple that you might find interesting include Kitty Hawk: The Wright Brothers’ Journey of Invention, directed by David Garrigus, and The Wright Stuff, narrated by Garrison Keillor.
• Build a model airplane or fly a drone in honor of the Wright Brothers.

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