Page 120 - Inventions - A Visual Encyclopedia (DK - Smithsonian)

The Wright brothers

The age of aviation began when
the American brothers Wilbur and

Orville Wright made the first WOW!
successful powered airplane
The brothers tossed
flight. This was accomplished a coin to decide who
GET MOVING 1903. Many pioneers had tried to fly planes with would fly first. Although
in their Flyer at Kitty Hawk in
Wilbur won, the
North Carolina on December 17,
engine stalled on
the first attempt.
engines before, but they always crashed. The Wright
brothers’ breakthrough was controlling the flight—the

Flyer traveled just 120 ft (37 m), but it took off and
landed in full control.

LIFE STORY
1867 1896 1899 1903

Wilbur Wright is born on a The brothers begin as bicycle The brothers move to Kitty Hawk Orville makes the first
farm near Newcastle, Indiana. makers, but turn to flying after in North Carolina and they begin powered, controlled
His brother Orville is born four hearing of the German aviator building trial planes to improve flight in the Flyer. This
years later in Dayton, Ohio. Otto Lilienthal’s pioneering their flying skills. kick-starts a new age
hang-glider flights. in aviation.

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