On what date did the Wright brothers make their first controlled, powered airplane flight?

The Wright brothers made their first controlled, powered airplane flight on December 17, 1903.

Orville and Wilbur Wright conducted the historic flights near Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, close to Kitty Hawk. Orville piloted the first flight at 10:35 a.m.; it lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. The brothers made four flights that day, alternating as pilots, with the longest traveling 852 feet.

Their achievement depended on more than an engine. The Wrights developed a three-axis control system that allowed a pilot to manage roll, pitch, and yaw. They also built a wind tunnel and tested wing shapes and propellers systematically, giving them more reliable aerodynamic data than many earlier experimenters.

The date is sometimes confused with December 14, when a preliminary attempt ended after the aircraft stalled shortly after takeoff. The 1903 Flyer was badly damaged after the fourth flight and never flew again, but its successful tests established the beginning of practical powered aviation.