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Inventors
The History of Flight
The History of the Airplane
Photo: Orville and Wilbur Wright in the Wright Brothers' Plane
 
Orville and Wilbur Wright testing the first military airplane - aeroplane
Photo
The Wright Brothers testing the first military aircraft
 History of the Airplane Contents
Early History of Flight
Orville and Wilbur Wright
 Airplane Technology
How Does an Airplane Fly
The Part of an Airplane
More Airplane and Flight Innovations
Jet Engines
Seaplanes
Flight Suits - Anti-Gravity Suits
Airports/Airlines - Luggage
Ejection Seats
Black Box/Flight Recorders
Helicopters
Rockets
Parachutes
Air Ships
Understanding Engines


Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright - Inventors of the First Engined Airplane
Orville Wright (1871-1948) and Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) requested a patent application for a "flying machine" nine months before their successful flight in December 1903, which Orville Wright recorded in his diary. As part of the Wright Brothers' systematic practice of photographing every prototype and test of their various flying machines, they had persuaded an attendant from a nearby lifesaving station to snap Orville Wright in full flight. The craft soared to an altitude of 10 feet, traveled 120 feet, and landed 12 seconds after takeoff. After making two longer flights that day, Orville and Wilbur Wright sent this telegram to their father, instructing him to "inform press."

Earlier in 1900, Wilbur Wright wrote to French aviation pioneer Octave Chanute (1832-1910) and expressed the belief that "flight is possible to man...[and] I feel that it will soon cost me an increased amount of money if not my life". More on the Wright Brothers' invention of the airplane.
Wright Brothers Patent Drawing for Flying Machine now called the Airplane
Drawing: Patent drawing from Wright brothers' patent

Early History of Flight
A timeline of the history of the airplane up to the Wright Brothers.

Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright - Airplane Invention
Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright invented the airplane, which they patented as a "flying machine". The first engine-powered airplane to fly was the Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903.

More Airplane History
The History of Flight
Celebrating a century of avaition.
A History of Flight
From the London Museum of Science a consise history of the airplane.
Aviation Pioneers : An Anthology
Hundreds of the pioneers in aviation history are listed in this anthology.
Aviation History
This history covers airplanes and flight machines from 400 BC until today - from the aviation resource center.
Seaplanes
The History of the Jet Engine

Airplane Technology
Dynamics of Flight
How does an airplane fly?
The Parts of an Airplane
The different parts of an airplane.
See How It Flies
A new spin on the perceptions, procedures, and principles of airplane flight.
Flight Suits and Anti-Gravity Suits
Flight Stimulation
Ejection Seats
Black Box

Next page > Early History of Flight

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©Mary Bellis
"Airplane photos courtesy of the US Air Force Museum"
sp Aeroplane
From Mary Bellis,
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