The Wright brothers completed four successful flights at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903.
Orville flew first, covering 120 feet in 12 seconds. Wilbur then flew 175 feet, Orville flew 200 feet, and Wilbur made the final flight, traveling 852 feet in 59 seconds. The brothers alternated pilots for the four attempts.
After the fourth flight, a strong gust overturned the Flyer and badly damaged it. The brothers therefore did not continue testing that day. John T. Daniels of the U.S. Life-Saving Service photographed the first flight, while members of the station helped move the machine.
The four flights were short by modern standards, but they demonstrated controlled takeoff, flight, and landing in a powered aircraft. The final flight was the day’s longest in both distance and duration.