The Wright brothers, Orville (1871–1948) and Wilbur Wright (1867–1912), were American inventors and aviation pioneers who are widely credited with inventing, building, and flying the world’s first successful motorized airplane. On December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, they achieved the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered aircraft, with Orville piloting the plane for 12 seconds over 120 feet.
Their success was the result of years of experimentation, engineering skill, and an innovative approach to flight control. Unlike many of their contemporaries, the Wrights focused on how to control an aircraft in flight, leading to their breakthrough with three-axis control—still a fundamental principle in modern aviation.
Beyond their technical achievements, the Wright brothers’ determination and hands-on experimentation laid the foundation for the aviation industry. Their work transformed transportation and helped usher in the modern age of flight. Below is a rare collection of early flight test photos featuring the Wright Brothers in the early 1900s.
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| Tom Tate, son of Captain Tate's half-brother Daniel Tate, posing with a drum fish in front of 1900 Wright glider |
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| 1901 glider being flown as a kite, Wilbur at left side, Orville at right; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, 1901 |
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| Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, 1901 |
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| Side view of glider flying as a kite near the ground, Wilbur at left and Orville at right, glider turned forward to right and tipped downward, 1901 |
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| Side view of Wilbur gliding in level flight, moving to right near bottom of Big Hill; Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, October 10, 1902 |
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| The first flight of the Wright Flyer, December 17, 1903, Orville piloting, Wilbur running at wingtip |
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