December 17, 2003 marks the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Orville and Wilbur Wright�s 12 second flight opened the door to unimaginable innovation, changing transportation and exploration forever. As this Commemorative Aviation Series brought to you by Microsoft Flight Simulator draws to a close, Patty Wagstaff, famous aerobatic pilot recounts that first flight. The 1903 Wright Flyer had a rudimentary design and was made entirely of wood, with muslin-covered wings. The 12-horse power engine was run with bicycle chains. World-renowned aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff, talks about the plane that made it all happen:
"You know the first para-plane ever to fly and so, by nature of having an engine and actually flying, you know, with a pilot and an engine, it was the very first airplane � everything before that would have been a glider or a failure, I guess you�d say, as a powered airplane."
Microsoft�s Flight Simulator 2004 "Century of Flight," provides a hands-on historical experience, allowing virtual pilots to fly the 1903 Flyer for themselves:
"You know most people can only read about historical airplanes, such as the Wright Flyer, but with Flight-Sim it gives any way a hands-on history lesson of flight basically. You can climb right in and you can take the Wright Flyer further than the Wright brothers� 120 feet."
This was your "Minute in Aviation."
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