Who was the first person to fly in a powered aircraft?

The first person to fly in a powered aircraft was Orville Wright. He achieved this historic milestone on December 17, 1903, when he piloted the Wright brothers' aircraft, known as the Flyer, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This flight lasted for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet, marking a significant breakthrough in the history of aviation.

Orville, along with his brother Wilbur, conducted extensive research and experimentation leading up to this flight, making critical advancements in aerodynamics, control systems, and overall aircraft design. This accomplishment is recognized as the beginning of human-powered flight, showcasing the Wright brothers' innovative spirit and engineering prowess. Their successful flight demonstrated that controlled powered flight was possible, laying the groundwork for the future of aviation.

The other figures mentioned in the options were notable aviators but did not accomplish the first powered flight. Wilbur Wright was a co-inventor and crucial to the development of the Flyer but did not pilot the first flight. Glenn Curtiss and Charles Lindbergh made significant contributions to aviation later, but their achievements came well after the Wright brothers' initial powered flight.