Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

On the centennial anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight, Mike Smith continues exploring the life lessons of Orville and Wilbur Wright on Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Smith:


It's been 100 years since the Wright brothers made history with their first airplane flight. But did you know, at the time their accomplishment was rejected as a hoax? Only five people witnessed that first flight on December 17 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and the flight that made history was only 12 seconds long. Later that same day they piloted a flight that lasted a whopping 59 seconds-not exactly what we expect of flying today.


In 1999, a poll by USA Today concluded that the invention of the airplane was one of the top five most important news stories of the 20th century. But only four newspapers covered the story of the Wright brothers' flight in 1903. The news was leaked to the press by a local telegraph operator who made several errors in the telegram she sent for the brothers to their father in Ohio. As a result, the few stories published were factually inaccurate. The amazing news of the new flying machine was dismissed by most readers as impossible.


For several years after their first success, the brothers worked to perfect their airplane in secret. It took them two years of experimentation to give a pilot full control of the machine. Eventually, the Wright brothers' perseverance paid off, making them the first great international heroes of the century. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.