- The first successful flight in history on December 17th, 1903. Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright successfully flew the “Flyer”, which had a 12-horsepower engine and weighed approximately 600 pounds, for 12 seconds at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina.
- The Wright Brothers took their Flyer up four times including a one-and-a half circle around the field. He reached an elevation of 27 meters (89 feet) on the fourth trip. This flight lasted only 59 seconds.
- Some planes can refuel in flight! Two hoses are connected by refueling jets as they fly side-by-side at speeds of 300 km/h (186 miles/h). For Aircraft part suppliers, visit https://www.aerfin.com/beyond-fleet-services/beyond-engine/
- To stay up in the air, airplanes use a force called lift. When air rushes across wings quickly, it creates an invisible force that pushes them upward and keeps the plane in the sky.
- The Antonov An-225 Mriya is the largest aircraft ever constructed. In 1988, it was built and designed in Ukraine to carry parts for the Soviet Space Shuttle Program. The aircraft has six landing wheels, 32 engines and a wingspan that is about the same as two football fields!
- The NASA X-15 Rocketplane is the record holder for speed in an aircraft. In 1967, it reached speeds of up to 4,520 miles an hour (7.274 kilometers/hour).
- The world’s solar-powered aircraft is called the Solar Impulse 2. The solar-powered aircraft has completed its incredible mission of circumnavigating the globe!
- Modern jetliners can reach heights of up to 39,000 feet (11,887 meters). This is more than 7 miles!
- The world’s most expensive private jet is the Airbus A380 owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. The estimated value is around $500 million.
They are incredible machines that can do amazing things. Aviation is one of history’s most amazing inventions.