What Happened on December 17?

On this day in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered airplane flight in history, flying for just 12 seconds over the sandy hills of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

• 1903 — Wright brothers make the first successful airplane flight

  Orville Wright flew the Wright Flyer for 12 seconds and about 120 feet at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina — the first controlled, powered flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft. Read the full story →

• 1903 — Wilbur Wright completes the longest flight of the day at Kitty Hawk

  Later on December 17, 1903, Wilbur Wright flew 852 feet in 59 seconds — the day's best powered flight. Read the full story →

• 1969 — U.S. Air Force closes Project Blue Book UFO investigation

  On December 17, 1969, the Air Force announced it was shutting down Project Blue Book, its long-running study of unidentified flying objects. Read the full story →

• 2014 — United States announces plan to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba

  President Barack Obama announced steps to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, including a prisoner exchange and easier travel rules, ending a freeze dating to 1961. Read the full story →

• 1989 — The Simpsons premieres as its own TV show

  The Simpsons debuted as a half-hour series on Fox, beginning a record-breaking run that made it the longest-running American animated primetime series. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) · Humphry Davy (1778–1829) · Pope Francis (1936) · Milla Jovovich (1975)

Days & observances

Wright Brothers Day · National Maple Syrup Day · Saturnalia (historical mid-December festival) · Pan American Aviation Day