Mega Goal 3 Student’s Book
The Wright Brothers The Wright brothers, Orville (1871–1948) and Wilbur (1867–1912),
were inventors and aviation pioneers who built and flew the first successful airplane. They were not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, but they were the first to invent airplane controls that made powered flight possible.
The Wright brothers differed from other inventors of the time because their focus wasn’t on creating more powerful engines. What they did focus on was developing a reliable pilot control system. Their homemade wind tunnel provided the data the brothers needed in order to design and build the most efficient wings and propellers that had ever been made. They gained valuable experience and mechanical skills by working with bicycles, motors, and other machinery in their shop for years. They developed their skills as pilots through extensive glider tests,
Mega Goal 3 Student’s Book
from 1900 to 1903, until their first powered flight. Competing researchers and entrepreneurs challenged the Wright brothers’ abilities and skills as inventors. The Wright brothers’ work has had a lasting impact on aviation and aerodynamics.