The Wright Brothers Took Flight and Changed the World

by Alarice McPark, age 13

Humans first took flight on Dec. 17, 1903, in an aircraft that was invented by none other than the Wright brothers.

Orville and Wilbur Wright were born in the Midwest town of Dayton, Ohio. Wilbur was the older sibling, born in 1871. Orville was born five years later.

During their younger years, Orville and Wilbur had different reputations. Orville was a bright intellectual, albeit a mischievous and idle student. Wilbur was intelligent and composed. He also participated in school sports. Despite having great minds, neither man attended college. In fact, Orville did not receive a high school diploma.

Before inventing their aircraft, the Wright brothers undertook many business ventures. In 1886, Orville and Ed Sines, childhood friends, started a printing business named Sines and Wright. They printed many things, such as flyers, letterheads, pamphlets, and even newspapers.

In 1889, Orville began a newspaper named the West Side News. However, it ended after 78 issues because it became unprofitable. In 1899, Wright and Sines were sold after Sines, who did most of the printing work, quit.

One of the most iconic establishments the Wright brothers created was a bicycle business called the Wright Cycle Company. They founded their company in 1893 and sold it in 190, the year when the Wright brothers secured a patent for their airplane. While the company was a repair shop, the Wrights released their own collection of bicycles. Only five bikes from this collection remain today.

Although the Wright brothers were the first to build an aircraft, there were others who also attempted to invent a flyable machine. The French were especially ambitious, one of whom even tried to imitate the Wrights’ designs!

The Wright brothers perfected their glider in 1905. Rather than improving their creation, they spent three years patenting it. Eventually, they got contracts from the United States and in some parts of Europe.

In 1908, they conducted their first publicized flight in France. They flew 200 times more that year. In May 1909, the Wright brothers returned to the United States, where they received medals, prizes, and celebrations throughout the country.

In 1912, Wilbur died of typhoid fever. Meanwhile, Orville would work toward maintaining their reputation until his death on Jan. 30, 1948.

Today, the airplane is used for transportation, shipment, and military operations throughout the world. From small entrepreneurs to revolutionary heroes, the Wright brothers and their invention of the aircraft placed them on a worldwide pedestal. Despite many trials and errors, they still dreamed, hoped, and created new ideas.

[Source: Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum]