Traveling by air for the holidays? Thank the Wright Brothers.

The Wright brothers were two American brothers, Orville and Wilbur, known for being pioneers that engineered the airplane. According to www.NationalDayCalendar.com,  Orville Wright flew their first plane for 12 seconds at 120 feet in the air. It’s a very short flight, but it’s still a flight.

Though they weren’t the first to build a plane, nor to fly one, they were the first to create aircraft controls that made fixed wing flight possible.

The day they first flew their plane was on December 17, 1903 which is why Wright Brothers Day is celebrated on December 17. In 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation creating this celebration.

One way to honor the Wright Brothers on this day, as well as other people who took to the skies, you can spend some time learning about the history of aircrafts and those who were involved, like Bessie Coleman and Amelie Earhart.