1Commemorating the 110th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur
2Wright's first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-
3than-air human flight.

4WHEREAS, Orville and Wilbur Wright, also known as the Wright
5Brothers, flew the first controlled, powered and sustained
6heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903, on the beach
7at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; and

8WHEREAS, They designed and built the Wright Flyer I flying
9machine over a period of years in their bicycle shop; and

10WHEREAS, Their invention of three-axis control was the
11breakthrough essential to controlled flight and is still used on
12fixed-wing aircraft to this day; and

13WHEREAS, The flight marked a historic turning point in the
14pursuit of powered human flight, launching a chain of events
15leading to the landing of a man on the moon, the United States

1Space Shuttle program and the International Space Station; and

2WHEREAS, Their invention significantly advanced the field of
3aviation that unites mankind by reducing travel time and
4effective distance around the globe; and

5WHEREAS, The development of practical airplanes has
6revolutionized transportation, communications, travel,
7agriculture, emergency medical services, law enforcement,
8warfare, search and rescue, disaster relief and environmental
9protection, the benefits of which are enjoyed virtually
10universally; and

11WHEREAS, The aerospace industry is responsible for tens of
12billions of dollars of economic activity and hundreds of
13thousands of jobs in the United States, and Pennsylvania is in
14the top ten states by employment in the aerospace and defense
15industry; and

16WHEREAS, In recent years, The Pennsylvania State University
17has been ranked as the top engineering school for aerospace
18companies; and

19WHEREAS, The Wright Brothers faced skepticism and derision
20when they first publicized their success and converted their
21critics by demonstrating their inventions; and

22WHEREAS, They have served as an inspiration to future
23generations of scientists, engineers and innovators; therefore
24be it

25RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
26110th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur Wright's first
27controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight;
28and be it further

29RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the memory
30of Orville and Wilbur Wright and express its appreciation for

1their heroic contributions to the field of aviation and to all
2of mankind.