Invention of the Airplane
Orville and Wilbur Wright had the first successful flight!
Orville Wright
Orville wright was born on August 19th, 1871. He lived far longer than his brother Wilbur, he died in 1948. Orville was a founding member on the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and he stayed in the public eye in the new world of aviation.
Wilbur Wright
Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867. He died in 1912, just 9 years after their successful first flight of a manned aircraft from typhoid fever.
Childhood Home
This is the house Orville and Wilbur Wright grew up in, in Dayton, Ohio.
The first airplane
The first successful plane looks far different than the fast flying planes of today. The plane was made of wood and canvas, and was only 40 feet wide. The plane had a 12 horse power motor that the Wright brothers made. The plane only ever flew a maximum of 59 seconds before crashing, but the plane was still able to take off, and be maneuvered in the air by a pilot.
Patent Information
The airplane was patented by the Wright Brothers on May 22, 1906. The Patent was number 82,393. They filed the patent request with the title "flying machine." It took nearly 3 years for the patent to go through.
Official Patent
(Link to full patent report filed by Orville and Wilbur Wright.)