remaining missing quarters.
North Carolina became the 12th state on November 21, 1789. Governor James B. Hunt had several state groups and coin collectors evaluate design ideas from the people of North Carolina. The governor and his committees selected the "First Flight" design idea to represent their state quarter. The words "First Flight" are in the center of the quarter.
These words stand for the world's first successful airplane flight. Wilbur and Orville Wright invented, built and flew the airplane called the Flyer that is pictured on the quarter. On December 17, 1903, the airplane piloted by Orville Wright took flight for 12 seconds and 120 feet. Only four men and a boy watched the flight that day. One of the men took a photograph of the historic flight. A similar picture of the photograph is shown on the quarter.
The take off occurred on sandy land at Kill Devil Hills beach that is
near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. That day the brothers made three more
flights. Wilbur's longest flight was 859 feet in 59 seconds. Their famous
flight went mostly unnoticed maybe because at that time most people did
not think flying machines would be of any use. The Wright Brothers believed
airplanes would be used to carry people and mail. They also thought they
would help in the prevention of wars. Ideas from the Flyer are used in
all airplanes. The Flyer was mostly made of cloth and wood and had a 12-horsepower
engine. Today 12-horsepower engines are used in lawnmowers.
Before airplanes, Orville and Wilbur opened a printing shop at the ages of 18 and 22. The Wright Brothers built their own printing press. In 1893, after repairing friends' bicycles, they opened a bicycle shop. Some time later they made bicycles. After they learned all they could about airplanes and flying, they built their first glider in 1900. A glider is an aircraft similar to an airplane but without an engine. In 1902 they set a gliding record of 620 feet.
Their next project, the airplane, would be their most famous and what they are remembered for. In 1928 the Flyer was on display at the Science Museum in London. The airplane was sent to the United States in 1948, and you can see it at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The area where the first flight happened is now the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
Before airplanes, Orville and Wilbur opened a printing shop at the ages of 18 and 22. The Wright Brothers built their own printing press. In 1893, after repairing friends' bicycles, they opened a bicycle shop. Some time later they made bicycles. After they learned all they could about airplanes and flying, they built their first glider in 1900. A glider is an aircraft similar to an airplane but without an engine. In 1902 they set a gliding record of 620 feet.
Their next project, the airplane, would be their most famous and what they are remembered for. In 1928 the Flyer was on display at the Science Museum in London. The airplane was sent to the United States in 1948, and you can see it at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The area where the first flight happened is now the Wright Brothers National Memorial.