Wednesday, December 17th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, December 17th — 

On this day, back in 1903 — Orville and Wilbur Wright achieve the first successful heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  The historic flight, with Orville at the controls, lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet.  In the fourth and longest flight of the day, flown by Wilbur, the Wright Flyer flew 852 feet in 59 seconds.  The Wright Brothers are the exemplars for the Academy Class of ’15. 

…Also on this day, back in 1944 — On the forty-first anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ historic first flight, Major Richard Bong records his fortieth and final aerial victory.  Major Bong, exemplar of the Class of ’03, is the United States’ leading air ace. 

…for recent photos of cadet activities, follow us on FLICKR @ AF_Academy!