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Student Article

Taking Flight: The Wright Brothers and the Birth of Aviation

Originally Published in  HistoryExtra

On a windy morning in North Carolina in 1903, the Wright brothers made history with the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight in a motorized airplane.

The article "Taking Flight: The Wright Brothers and the Birth of Aviation" from BBC's HistoryExtra tells the story of how Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first successful human flight on December 17, 1903. Despite its short distance, their powered and controlled flight marked the beginning of modern aviation.

Student Article Info

BBC's HistoryExtra is devoted to both British and world history and aimed at readers of all levels of knowledge and interest. Learn more about subscriptions here.

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Photo of the Wright brothers' airplane
© Getty

Most passages are available in three different versions: Level 1 (Grade 3-5), Level 2 (Grade 6-8), and Level 3 (Grade 9-12). Some more complex texts are available only in Level 2 and Level 3. Use the versions that are most appropriate for the students in your class.

Note: The BBC Learning Hub Editorial Team made use of AI tools to create multiple versions of this article, each tailored to different student reading levels. Every version undergoes a thorough review by our BBC Learning editors to ensure accuracy, quality, and appropriateness.

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Level 2 Reading Passage
Grades: 6-8Lexile Level: 800–1000L
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Level 3 Reading Passage
Grades: 9-12Lexile Level: 1100–1300L
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