Wright Brothers Facts for Kids

A Picture of Wright Brothers
  • Name: Wright Brothers
  • Profession: Aviation Pioneers
  • Born: 8-19-1871 (Orville) and 4-16-1867 (Wilbur)
  • Died: 1-30-1948 (Orville) and 5-30-1912 (Wilbur)
  • Resting Place: Woodlawn Cemetery (Orville and Wilbur)
  • Legacy: Invented the first self-powered flying aircraft

27 Wright Brothers Facts for Kids

  1. The Wright Brothers were two brothers that were pioneers in aviation during the late 19th and 20th century.
  2. The Wright Brothers are most well-known for create the first self-powered flying aircraft.
  3. The Wright Brothers is a term used collectively describe Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright.
  4. Orville Wright was born on August 19th, 1871 in Dayton, Ohio, United States.
  5. Wilbur Wright was born on April 16th, 1867 in Millville, Indiana, United States.
  6. Orville and Wilbur Wright were the sons of Milton Wright and Susan Catherine Koerner.
  7. Orville and Wilbur Wright were two of the seven children by Milton Wright and Susan Catherine Koerner.
  8. Orville and Wilbur Wright never got married or had children. They claimed they were married to their work.
  9. Orville Wright died at the age of 76 from a heart attack on January 30th, 1948 in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
  10. Wilbur Wright died at the age of 45 from typhoid fever on May 30th, 1912 in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
  11. In 1889, the Wright Brothers opened the Wright & Wright Job Printers printing business in Dayton, Ohio.
  12. In 1892, the Wright Brothers opened the Wright Cycling Exchange, a bicycle sales and repair shop. They would later rename the business to the Wright Cycle Company.
  13. In late 1900, the Wright Brothers explore Kitty Hawk and decide it’s a suitable location for their experiments. They choose Kitty Hawk because it’s isolated and has the right winds.
  14. In 1902, the Wright Brothers complete up to 1,000 successful glides with their 1902 Wright Glider.
  15. In 1902, the Wright Brothers begin planning and building the 1903 Wright Flyer.
  16. On December 14th, 1903 the Wright Brothers fail to get the Wright Flyer to fly.
  17. On December 17th, 1903 the Wright Brothers successfully flew the first self-powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer.
  18. In 1904, Wilbur Wright makes the first half-circle turn with an aircraft in the air. A few days later Orville Wright makes the first complete circle with an aircraft in the air.
  19. In 1906, the Wright Brothers are granted patent number 821,393 for their Wright Flyer.
  20. In September 1908, the first recorded airplane related fatality occurs with a Wright machine. A propeller on the Wright machine breaks off and kills Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge and serious wounds Orville Wright.
  21. In May 1909, the Wright Brothers start the Wright Company. Wilbur serves as the president, while Orville and Andrew Freedman serve as vice presidents.
  22. In May 1910, the Wright Company opens the Huffman Prairie Flying Field, a flight school in Ohio.
  23. In May 1910, both Wright Brothers fly together at Huffman Prairie Flying Field. This is the first and only time the brothers fly together in an aircraft.
  24. In May 1912, Wilbur Wright dies from typhoid fever at the age of 45.
  25. In October 1915, Orville Wright sells the Wright Company and devotes his full attention to aviation research.
  26. In May 1918, Orville completes his last flight as a pilot in a 1912 model biplane.
  27. In January 1948, Orville Wright dies from a heart attack at the age of 77.

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