
December 17, 1903
105 years ago today, Wilbur and Orville Wright were able to coax their biplane to lift off the dunes of North Carolina for 12 seconds. Made from little more than spruce, muslin and bicycle chains, the plane defied gravity and the world has never been the same.
Maybe it is because they were from Dayton or my fascination with flight, but I wanted to call attention to this event that is easy to take for granted. This occasion and this photo may be the most recognizable event of the 20th century. With this single achievement, a revolution started where determining distance started to be measured in hours not days. And this holiday season, it is worth noting that nothing has brought more people closer together than the airplane.
It was said that before this flight many remarked that, “If God had wanted us to fly he would have given us wings,” and after this achievement it was often heard that “If we can do that, what can’t we do?”