Wright Brothers First Flight, 1903

The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 May 30, 1912), were two American brothers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who are credited with inventing and building the world s first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavierthanair human flight, on December 17, 1903. From 1905 to 1907, the brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixedwing aircraft. Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixedwing powered flight possible. The brothers fundamental breakthrough was their invention of threeaxis control, which enabled the pilot to steer the aircraft effectively and to maintain its method became and remains standard on fixedwing aircraft of all kinds. From the beginning of their aeronautical work, the Wright brothers focused on developing a reliable method of pilot control as the