By Kelsee S.By Kelsee S.

The Wright BrothersThe Wright Brothers

http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/wright/

Wilbur and Orville

• Wilbur Wright—born April 16, 1867 in Millville, Indiana

• Orville Wright—born August 19, 1871 in Dayton, Ohio

• 3 siblings: Reuchin, Lorin, and Katharine Wright

Careers

• Began their own printing firm

• At 22 and 18, they built their own printing press.

• Started a repair business

• Opened a bicycle shop

• Created their very own bicycles

How it all Started…

• Ott Lilienthal’s work proved that manned flight was possible.

• The brothers learned everything they could about flying.

• They began designing experiments of their own.

• They built their 1st miniature flying machine in the 1890s.

Creating Flying Machines

• Created their own wind tunnel

• A long, narrow wing shape is the best design for a flying machine.

• Figured how to move the vehicle freely

• Devised a pulley system

1903 Flyer

• Created 1st airplane props

• Used 8-foot propellers

• Built their own lightweight gas-powered engine

• 152-pound engine = 12 horsepower

First Flight

• Thursday, December 17, 1903

• Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

• Strong winds between 22-27 M.P.H.

• Flew for 12 seconds at 120 feet

• (1908) Record flight—2 hours and 19 minutes

First Airplane Crash

• September 17, 1908

• Nearly 2,000 people for the event

• Lt. Selfridge volunteered to be a passenger for the trial.

• Lt. Selfridge died from a fractured skull.

• Buried with military honors at the Arlington National Cemetary

Retirement

• They continued to design and manufacture planes until 1912, when Wilbur died of typhoid fever.

• Orville sold his shares and retired.

• Orville would not invent again without his brother.