How the Wright Brothers Began the Aviation Era

Orville and Wilbur Wright claimed their spot in history as the inventors of the first successful airplane.  The brothers claim their interest in flight was sparked in 1878 after their father returned from traveling with a toy “helicopter.”  Made out of paper, cork, bamboo, and a rubber band to spin its rotor, the boys played with it until it broke, then built their own. 

Neither Orville or Wilbur ever received their high school diploma and in 1892, they opened a bicycle sales and repair shop on the heels of a massive national bike craze.  They used the money from the store to fund their growing interest in flight. 

In 1989, Wilbur contacted the Smithsonian Institute requesting information regarding aeronautics.  Pulling from the work of famous individuals such as Sir George Cayley and Leonardo da Vinci, the brothers began experimenting with mechanical aeronautical. 

On December 17, 1903, the brothers made the first powered, heavier-than-air human flight in the Wright Flyer.  In fact, they made four flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the best covering 852 feet in just under a minute.  The Wright Flyer was successful because of its three-axis control system, featuring a moveable rudder, an elevator for pitch control, and wing-warping. 

Just 105 years after that famous first flight, aviation has dramatically progressed.  Now a normal mode of transportation for traveling the world, airplanes can cover greater distances than ever.  Innovations, such as the arc fault breaker developed by LiveWire, are making consumer traveling safer and much more comfortable.  In fact, many airplanes (especially in first and business class) are equipped with fully loaded entertainment centers, Wi-Fi internet, reclining seats, and first-rate meals.