The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, are renowned for their pioneering work in aviation.¹⁾

Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871, in Dayton, Ohio, and Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867, near Millville, Indiana.²⁾

They were the sons of Milton Wright, a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and Susan Catherine Koerner Wright.³⁾

The brothers were exceptionally close and worked together on numerous projects throughout their lives.⁴⁾

Orville and Wilbur Wright had two older brothers, Reuchlin and Lorin, and a younger sister named Katharine.⁵⁾

Their interest in flight was sparked by childhood toys like kites and rubber band-powered helicopters.⁶⁾

The Wright brothers ran a printing business in Dayton, Ohio, which provided them with the funds to pursue their aviation experiments.⁷⁾

They were largely self-educated and avid readers, with a particular interest in books about flying machines.⁸⁾

In 1892, Wilbur Wright suffered a serious injury while playing ice hockey, which caused him to be bedridden for several months. During his recovery, he became engrossed in reading about birds and their flight.⁹⁾

Orville and Wilbur initially experimented with gliders before moving on to powered flight.¹⁰⁾

Their first successful powered airplane, the Wright Flyer, flew on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.¹¹⁾

The first flight lasted only 12 seconds and covered a distance of 120 feet.¹²⁾

Orville piloted the first flight, with Wilbur running alongside to help stabilize the aircraft during takeoff.¹³⁾

Over the course of the day, they made four flights, with the longest lasting 59 seconds and covering a distance of 852 feet.¹⁴⁾

The Wright Flyer was made of wood, fabric, and wire, and it was powered by a 12-horsepower engine.¹⁵⁾

Their breakthrough in aviation was largely due to their innovative design of a three-axis control system, which allowed for precise control of the aircraft.¹⁶⁾

The Wright brothers conducted many of their early experiments at Kitty Hawk because of its consistent winds and soft sand, which provided a safe landing surface.¹⁷⁾

Despite their achievements, the Wright brothers initially struggled to gain recognition for their work, facing skepticism and criticism from the scientific community.¹⁸⁾

It wasn't until 1908, after a series of successful public demonstrations in Europe, that they began to receive widespread acclaim.¹⁹⁾

The Wright brothers formed the Wright Company in 1909 to manufacture and sell their airplanes.²⁰⁾

Their sister Katharine played a significant role in their business endeavors, managing their correspondence and serving as a spokesperson for the company.²¹⁾

Orville and Wilbur Wright were awarded the Langley Medal in 1910 for their contributions to aviation.²²⁾

They were also awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1909.²³⁾

Orville Wright became the first person to fly with a passenger when he took his mechanic, Charles Furnas, on a flight in 1908.²⁴⁾

The Wright brothers continued to refine their aircraft designs, making significant improvements in stability and control.²⁵⁾

The Wright brothers' contributions to aviation laid the foundation for the development of modern aircraft and aerospace technology. ²⁶⁾

Orville Wright served as a consultant to the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I, helping to develop military aircraft.²⁷⁾

Wilbur Wright died of typhoid fever on May 30, 1912, at the age of 45, leaving Orville to continue their work alone.²⁸⁾

Orville Wright sold the Wright Company in 1915 and retired from active involvement in aviation.²⁹⁾

Orville Wright lived to see many significant advancements in aviation, including the development of jet propulsion and commercial air travel.³⁰⁾