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 2003 Centennial of Flight celebration at Kill Devil Hills, marking the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight, which was severely impacted by heavy rain.
Despite plans for a recreation, Ken Hyde's reproduction of the Wright Flyer was only able to start its engines due to the weather and did not achieve a significant flight debut.
The event underscored the iterative nature of invention and the insights gained from the "Wright Experience" into early aviation, leading the author to reflect on two decades of progress and anticipate future breakthroughs.

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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.