It was the first time a heavier than air, self propelled, aircraft had flown. The flight lasted 12 seconds, and covered 120 feet.

It happened at 10:35am near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The pilot was Orville Wright.

The flight was witnessed by five people.

The brothers then made three further attempts at flight during the day.

The last flight of the day, with Wilbur at the controls, flew for 59 seconds, and covered 852 feet.

The Wright brothers' aircraft of 1903 is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.