NORTH CAROLINA (WALB) - On December 17, 1903, North Carolina’s Wright Brothers took their first flight, changing travel forever.

The Wright Brothers — Orville and Wilbur — were mechanics who became American icons when they successfully invented, built and flew the first airplane.

After that first flight, aeronautical activity took off.

Just a few years later, in 1909, the world’s first military plane came into use. Not long after, airports began appearing around the world.

Today, Georgia’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has over 2,000 flights coming through every day. That’s about 286,000 passengers.

Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany is home to 35 aircraft.

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