Expert Opinion
AIN Blog: Celebrating 110 Years of Aviation Progress
The delights of flying in a Pipistrel Alpha Trainer at Santa Monica Airport. Photo: Kambiz Taleghani
The delights of flying in a Pipistrel Alpha Trainer at Santa Monica Airport. Photo: Kambiz Taleghani

Today is the 110th anniversary of the first powered flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina. This anniversary is a good jumping-off point to reflect on how far aviation has come in the past 110 years.

It seems like just yesterday that I was standing in the cold rain at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills exactly 10 years ago, waiting for the moment when Kevin Kochersberger would attempt to re-create Orville’s first flight in the incredibly accurate replica Wright Flyer built by Ken Hyde and his team at The Wright Experience. While the Flyer barely lifted off the takeoff rail, hampered by ignition problems due to the water coming off the rail and the lack of a strong wind, it was an amazing event, shared by thousands.

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Matt Thurber
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