The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, invented the first successful powered airplane in 1903. Their aircraft, the Wright Flyer, made its historic 12-second flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wrights combined innovative control systems with an engine-driven propeller to achieve sustained flight.
Their invention laid the foundation for the modern aviation industry and changed travel, warfare, and commerce. Today, air travel is a cornerstone of global connectivity thanks to their pioneering work.