Interesting Facts: #2

(Click on pic to enlarge).

A Boeing 747s wingspan is longer than the Wright brother's first flight.

The wingspan of a Boeing 747 is 64.67 metres.

On 17 December, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first flight of a powered, heavier than air flying machine at Kittyhawk.  The picture above is of that first flight, with Orville piloting and Wilbur running at wingtip.  The plane, named the Wright Flyer 1, travelled 37 metres in 12 seconds. 

According to Orville:

"This flight lasted only 12 seconds, but nevertheless it was the first in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power in the air in full flight, and sailed forward without reduction of speed and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started."

Three further flights were made:  the second travelled 53 metres, the third flew 61 metres and the final flight made 177 metres, remaining aloft for 59 seconds.