Wilbur and Orville Wright's Wright Flyer was the first successful airplane. On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville Wright flew the first heavier-than-air machine in a powered, controlled, and sustained flight. The Flyer, constructed of wood. wire and muslin, went a distance of 1 20 feet in 12 seconds It was a tremendous success, coming from a long series of aeronautics experiments that the Wright Brothers started in 1899 with a kiteWilbur and Orville Wright's Wright Flyer was the first successful airplane. On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville Wright flew the first heavier-than-air machine in a powered, controlled, and sustained flight. The Flyer, constructed of wood, wire, and muslin, went a distance of 120 feet in 12 seconds. It was a tremendous success, coming from a long series of aeronautics experiments that the Wright Brothers started in 1899 with a kite