Wright Brothers
                     Wright Brothers
Introduction
– Wilbur and Orville Wright were American inventors 
and pioneers of aviation. 
– In 1903 the Wright brothers achieved the first 
powered, sustained and controlled airplane flight; 
they surpassed their own milestone two years later 
when they built and flew the first fully practical 
airplane.
Source: www.history.com
Early life
– 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.
Source: www.history.com
Early life cont.
– Milton Wright’s preaching took him on the road 
frequently, and he often brought back small toys 
for his children. 
– In 1878 he brought back a small model helicopter 
for his boys. 
Source: www.history.com
Education
– Wilbur was a bright and studious child, and 
excelled in school. His personality was outgoing 
and robust, and he made plans to attend Yale 
University after high school. 
Source: www.history.com
Accident
– In the winter of 1885-86, an accident changed the 
course of Wilbur’s life. He was badly injured in an 
ice hockey game, when another player’s stick hit 
him in the face.
– Though most of his injuries healed, the incident 
plunged Wilbur into a depression.
Source: www.history.com
Own Newspaper
– In 1889 the brothers started their own newspaper, 
the West Side News. 
– Wilbur edited the paper, and Orville was the 
publisher. 
Source: www.history.com
Bike shop
– The brothers also shared a passion for bicycles- a 
new craze that was sweeping the country. 
– In 1892 Wilbur and Orville opened a bike shop, 
fixing bicycles and selling their own design.
Source: www.history.com
Developing the Airplane
– 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.
Source: www.history.com
Flight Design
– Wilbur and Orville set to work trying to figure out 
how to design wings for flight. 
– When they added a moveable rudder, the Wright 
brothers found they had the magic formula-on 
December 17, 1903, they succeeded in flying the 
first free, controlled flight of a power-driven, 
heavier than air plane. 
Source: www.history.com
Fame
– 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.
Source: www.history.com