CNN.com - Bush honors anniversary of first flight - Dec. 17, 2003

CNN.com - Bush honors anniversary of first flight - Dec. 17, 2003: "KILL DEVIL HILLS, North Carolina (CNN) -- The Wright brothers would have sympathized.

One hundred years after the brothers' first flight, a meticulous reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer made a valiant attempt to take to the air on Wednesday.

Much like many of the brothers' early efforts, the plane could not get airborne. It struggled down a narrow track and unceremoniously came to a halt in a mud puddle. "

I saw a special on this on Discovery last night. Not too surprising that it didn't work, the Wright Brothers tried a number of times before things worked right.

After about thirty-five feet the Flyer lifted off the ground. But after just 3 1/2 seconds, it smashed back to earth. It took two days to repair the damages. But on December 17, 1903, the Wrights were ready to try again.

With more details under the link.