Wilbur Wright made the first flight in the 1905 Wright Flyer on October 5, 1905.
The flight took place at Huffman Prairie near Dayton, Ohio, using the aircraft often known as Flyer III. Wilbur remained airborne for 39 minutes and 23 seconds, covering about 24 miles in a series of circuits.
This was a major demonstration of the brothers’ progress beyond the short flights of 1903. The 1905 machine could turn, circle, and land with practical reliability. Its performance convinced the Wrights that they had developed the world’s first practical airplane.
The brothers did not immediately publicize the achievement widely. They sought commercial and military contracts and were cautious about allowing observers to inspect the aircraft before securing legal protection. The 1905 Flyer’s success established the design foundation for their later demonstrations in Europe and the United States.