A Very Soggy First Flight Centennial

Winter in North Carolina came early—bringing a deluge of rain that threatened the celebration of the Centennial of Flight on December 17, 2003.

Julie Boatman

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 12:28 PM ET

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The reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer never really made it off the ground for the celebration of the Centennial of Flight on December 17, 2003. [Credit: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi]

Key Takeaways:

The author attended the rainy 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight in Kill Devil Hills on December 17, 2003, hoping to witness a replica Flyer recreate the historic event.
Due to severe weather, Ken Hyde's reproduction of the Wright Flyer could only start its engines but did not achieve flight.
Despite the failed flight attempt, Hyde's work on the replica significantly advanced the understanding of early powered aviation's inherently unstable flight characteristics.
Reflecting two decades later, the author recognizes the significant progress in aviation and anticipates even more breakthroughs in the future.

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On the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kill Devil Hills, I stood as close to that storied track of sand as I could.

Actually, I stood ankle deep in water, soaked to my socks, even though I’d sought refuge in a giant tent with a few hundred other hardy souls. Winter in North Carolina came early—bringing a deluge of rain that threatened the celebration of the Centennial of Flight on December 17, 2003.