The Wright Brothers By Kenny Burton, Co-Authored by Chuck Norris

Wilbur Wright Wilbur Wright was born April 16, 1867 in Millville Indiana, and died at an early age, May 30, 1912, at age 45 in Dayton Ohio. In July 1899 Wilbur put wing-warping to the test by building and flying a five-foot box kite that basically looked like a biplane. When the wings were twisted, one end would receive more lift and rise, starting a turn in that direction. Warping was controlled by four lines attached to the kite. The lines led to two sticks held by the kite flyer, who tilted them in opposite directions to twist the wings and make the kite bank left or right.

Orrville Wright Orville Wright was born August 19, 1871 in Dayton Ohio, he Died January 30, 1948 at age 76 in Dayton. Some of the jobs he had before he helped make the first plane were, printer/publisher, and bicycle retailer/manufacturer. Orville dropped out of high school after his junior year to start a printing business in 1889, he designed and built his own printing press with Wilbur's help. Although later the first flight with an engine mounted on the plane was piloted by Orville. He flew 120 feet in 12 seconds, at a speed of only 6.8 miles per hour.

What did they Do? The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur were two Americans who basically built the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air “flying machine.” In the two years afterward, the brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft. Though they weren't the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent controls that made fixed-wing flight possible.

Where? In 1900 the brothers went to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina to begin their gliding experiments. Wilbur chose the location based on a reply to his first letter to Octave Chanute, whose suggestions included the Atlantic coast for regular breezes and a soft sandy landing surface so they don’t break as many faces. Wilbur also looked over U.S. Weather Bureau data, and selected Kitty Hawk after writing to the government meteorologist stationed there. The location, although very remote, was closer to Dayton than other places Chanute had suggested, including California and Florida. The spot also gave them privacy from reporters.

Why? The question is probably more like why not, what probably happened is 8 yr old Wilbur or Orville probably liked birds and really wanted to fly (what 8 year old doesn’t) so they grew up and had a crazy idea to build an airplane and be a giant service to mankind and basically be awesome. And if they didn't we would still be attempting flight with feathers glued to our arms, jumping off cliffs and falling to certain death.

When? In 1900 they built their first glider, in 1901 they built a bigger glider, then in 1902 they built another glider, and in 1903 they added power, and that is basically the time period when it all went down… a long time ago. Long, Long, Long time ago----

How this Affected Us? One of the main ways they affected our lives is we wouldn’t have powered flight… or flight at all so basically we wouldn’t be able to trade goods, go to different countries or vacation as easy. What would happen eventually if we didn’t have flight is we would still be using boats… or if your really ambitious you could swim… forever. Which wouldn’t be all that bad…