Inspired by the experiments of Octave Chanute, they left a successful
bicycle manufacturing business to devote their lives to aeronautics.
Three years of unpowered flights assisted in the perfection of their
design. The world's first wind tunnel in which they tested more than
200 wing shapes was a byproduct of their development program. Lack of
a suitable engine caused them to design and produce their own power plant.
These pioneers changed the course of history, when without public notice,
in a fragile craft weighing 750 lbs., with a 12 horsepower engine, on
December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, made the first
successful powered flight. Orville is credited with the first flight of
12 seconds, and a distance of 120 feet. Each completing two successful
flights on that epic day, Wilbur making the longest of 852 feet.
Public recognition of their achievement was to take several years, coming
first in Europe. Not until 1908 were they able to interest the U.S.
Government in their machine, organize Wright Airplane Company, and produce
aircraft. Orville, credited with many aeronautical patents, remained active
in aircraft research until his death.
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