The Wright Flyer takes off on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in the first successful attempt of sustained powered flight. In this photograph of the first flight, Orville Wright is at the controls lying prone on the lower wing with hips in the cradle that operated the wing warping mechanism. Wilbur Wright running alongside, has just released his hold to balance the machine.Photo credit: John T. Daniels