One hundred years ago, two brothers who owned a bicycle shop traveled from Dayton, Ohio, to the shores of North Carolina to try a daring experiment: flying a manually controlled, powered heavier-than-air machine. All eyes suddenly turned to a small coastal town called Kill Devil Hills, which suddenly went from a weather station to the birthplace of a faster, more efficient way to travel. UNC-TV celebrates this event with two evenings of specials that delve into the history and commemoration of the Wright brothers' successful flight.

Former "Good Morning, America" host David Hartman interviews author Larry Tice in David Hartman: First in Flight on Tuesday, December 16 at 9 PM. Tice, author of two biographies about the Wrights, shares his years of studying photographs, journal entries and letters relating to the Wrights' search for the perfect combination of propulsion and control. In a lively discussion with Hartman, Tice reveals other people who accompanied the Wrights to the flight test site, the reasons why they chose Kitty Hawk as their testing ground and the various flight tests—both successful and unsuccessful—that led them to their final triumph.

The next night, December 17 at 8 PM, UNC-TV presents 100 Years of Flight, part of a partnership with WRAL chronicling the culmination of Centennial Celebration activities at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC. Included in the agenda is a formal commemorative centennial ceremony followed by a re-creation of the Wright brothers' first flight.

UNC-TV fills out these two evenings with additional programs highlighting North Carolina's contribution to the first controlled, powered flight:

December 16 at 8 PM
NOVA: The Wright Brothers' Flying Machine features exhilarating footage of flights by exclusively commissioned replicas that use the same original materials and the only existing Wright engine for the frail craft that first propelled humans toward the clouds.

December 16 at 10 PM
America Takes Flight: The National Air Tour documents the 1925-31 National Air Tours through archival footage including photographs, newspaper articles, advertisements, archival maps and footage of historic planes.

December 17 at 9 PM
Kitty Hawk: The Wright Brothers' Journey of Invention recounts the gripping tale of hardship, perseverance, and spectacular triumph of Orville and Wilbur Wright. The documentary follows the brothers, whose voices are portrayed by astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, through their epic and historic journey that culminates in the first successful manned flights.

UNC-TV is North Carolina’s only statewide broadcasting system, made possible through a unique partnership of public investment and private support. UNC-TV’s commitment to producing and broadcasting local and national programs about our state resources make it one of the state’s most important sources of information. For more information about UNC-TV and its programs, please visit www.unctv.org.

—UNC-TV—