Lots of us are headed to the airport this weekend. B.J. Davis of the N.C. Museum of History offers up some information about the first flight, which took off on the Outer Banks 105 years ago.

December usually evokes images of blustery weather, the holiday shopping rush, and long-distance travel to visit friends and family. For many of us who have moved to North Carolina, the holidays involve a trip to the airport. Flight will always have special significance in North Carolina, especially in December.

On Dec. 17, 1903, the age of flight had its true beginning on the state’s Outer Banks at Kill Devil Hill. Winds gusted at 25 to 30 miles per hour on that bitterly cold day, when Wilbur and Orville Wright first flew the flyer they had built. After making some adjustments to an overly sensitive device that controlled lift, the brothers managed to go from a brief, tenuous flight of 12 seconds to a longer flight that lasted nearly a minute and covered, according to their calculations, nearly one-half mile.

For kids, the lessons of this engineering feat reach far beyond the annals of history. Within the Wright brothers’ success story lie many important traits that all children should learn and practice as they grow up. Several of these traits follow.

Reading is Key — When Wilbur Wright decided to tackle the challenge of aeronautics, there wasn’t much research to draw upon. Not to be deterred, he went to the library and wrote the Smithsonian Institution to request books and materials. Wilbur read everything he could find that might be helpful. Strong reading skills provide a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

Learn From Failure — The Wright brothers had plenty of disappointments, yet each failure gave them an opportunity to rethink and reapply those lessons and make improvements. Whether children are learning to ride a bicycle or create a classroom project, they need to understand that failure is part of the learning process. Much of history is written by individuals who view failure as unacceptable or refuse to see it at all.

Preparation is Everything — Orville and Wilbur spent four summers designing and flying large-scale gliders to prepare for building their flyer. Their slow, meticulous approach helped them to consider everything from safety issues to flight dynamics and materials.

Much has changed since 1903 in Kill Devil Hill, now filled with putt-putt courses, fast-food restaurants, tourist shops and other attractions. But we still appreciate the significance of that cold and windy December morning long ago, when two brothers with determination, a genius for engineering, and a dream ushered in the age of flight and changed history.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!
WEEKEND: Relax!