The major achievement of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, in aviation history was the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft. On December 17, 1903, they successfully flew their aircraft, the Wright Flyer, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, achieving a flight lasting 12 seconds over a distance of 120 feet. This groundbreaking event marked the beginning of modern aviation, proving that powered flight was possible. Their innovative use of control surfaces and the invention of a practical flight control system laid the groundwork for future advancements in aviation technology, forever changing transportation and the way people travel.