The first airplane was the Wright Flyer, designed and built by the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright. It made its first successful flight on December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The aircraft was a biplane with a wingspan of 40 feet 4 inches and was powered by a 12-horsepower engine. The Wright Flyer flew for 12 seconds, covering a distance of 120 feet during its inaugural flight. This achievement marked the beginning of powered flight and laid the foundation for modern aviation. The Wright brothers continued to improve their designs, leading to advancements in aircraft technology.