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The Wright brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were American aviation pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful airplane.
- 3 years high school
- Editor, bicycle retailer / manufacturer, airplane inventor / manufacturer, pilot trainer
- American
- Heart attack
- Early Life
- First Flight
- Fame
- Death and Legacy
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867, near Millville, Indiana. He was the middle child in a family of five children. His father, Milton Wright, was a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. His mother was Susan Catherine Koerner. The family later moved to Dayton, Ohio. As a child, Wilbur’s playmate was his younger brother, Orvill...
Always working on different mechanical projects and keeping up with scientific research, the Wright brothers closely followed the research of German aviator Otto Lilienthal. When Lilienthal died in a glider crash, the brothers decided to start their own experiments with flight. Determined to develop their own successful design, Wilbur and Orville h...
In France, Wilbur found a much more receptive audience. He made many public flights and gave rides to officials, journalists and statesmen. In 1909 Orville joined his brother in Europe, as did their younger sister Katharine. The Wrights became huge celebrities there, hosted by royals and heads of state, and constantly featured in the press. The Wri...
Wilbur fell ill on a trip to Boston in April 1912. He was diagnosed with typhoid fever and died on May 30 at his family home in Dayton, Ohio. Milton Wright wrote in his diary, “A short life, full of consequences. An unfailing intellect, imperturbable temper, great self-reliance and as great modesty, seeing the right clearly, pursuing it steadily, h...
Learn about the Wright brothers, American inventors and pioneers of aviation who achieved one of the first flights with a powered, sustained and controlled airplane in 1903. Find out about their early life, experiments, fame, death and legacy in this article by History.com editors.
Apr 19, 2024 · Wright brothers, American brothers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight (1903). Orville made the first successful flight, covering 120 feet (36 meters) through the air in 12 seconds.
The Wright Flyer (also known as the Kitty Hawk, [3] [4] Flyer I or the 1903 Flyer) made the first sustained flight by a manned heavier-than-air powered and controlled aircraft—an airplane —on December 17, 1903. [2] . Invented and flown by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright, it marked the beginning of the pioneer era of aviation .
- December 17, 1903, 119 years ago
- Orville and Wilbur Wright
Learn about the history and legacy of the Wright brothers, the Midwestern bicycle mechanics who invented the first heavier-than-air powered aircraft in 1903. Explore their engineering skills, personality traits, family background, and cultural impact on American history and culture.
Mar 24, 2021 · Learn about the first powered airplane, the 1903 Wright Flyer, and its inventors, Orville and Wilbur Wright, through photos, 3D model, online exhibition, and more. Discover how the Flyer influenced aviation history and culture, and how it traveled to the Moon with Apollo 11.
Dec 17, 2018 · Learn how Orville and Wilbur Wright made history on December 17, 1903, when they completed the first powered flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Discover how their breakthrough of three-axis control and their contributions to aviation and space exploration led to the achievements of NASA and the U.S. government.
