Wings of innovation
Do you know what links the Wright Brothers to Neil Armstrong?
Image: Ashutosh Sonwani
The mere mention of the iconic Wright brothers always rings a bell. They were the pioneering duo who made it possible for human beings to achieve a long-sought dream: to fly. But beyond being grateful for the plane that takes you on vacation, there are many other facts about them you may not yet know. If you want to learn more about the siblings' bond and their journey to build the first plane in history, read on as we share 10 little-known facts about the incredible Wright brothers!
1
Brothers
Image: Juan Pablo Rodriguez
If you have siblings, you know that the relationship is often a mix of joy, complicity, and occasional rivalry.
The Wright brothers' bond was like that of any other pair of siblings. Wilbur, the eldest, was born on April 16, 1867, in Millville, Indiana. Four years later, he welcomed Orville, his younger brother and fellow adventurer, who was born on August 19, 1871, in Dayton, Ohio.
Their relationship, built on mutual respect and shared interests, led them to be the authors of nothing less than the first sustained, controlled flight in history.
2
The toy
Image: Yurii Khomitskyi
While most of us are familiar with the Wright brothers' historic achievement on December 17, 1903, you might not know how it all began.
Believe it or not, that great adventure started with a toy. That's right! In 1878, their father, Milton Wright, brought home a small flying toy made of cork and paper, which flew thanks to an elastic band. This simple object sparked the brothers' curiosity, which would later become the driving force behind their groundbreaking work.
3
Skilled mom
Image: Matt Artz
We all pick up a few tricks from our moms, don't we? Well, the Wright brothers were no exception. Their father wasn't the only one who fueled the little Wrights' curiosity; their mother, Susan Catherine Koerner Wright, also played a key role.
Susan had impressive mechanical skills and great practical problem-solving aptitudes. As the daughter of a wagon maker, she knew how to use tools to perfection, and often built household items and repaired appliances at home. Her mother's skills definitely influenced Orville and Wilbur's development!
4
Entrepreneurs
Image: Curdin
The brothers were not afraid of business and entrepreneurship—quite the opposite!
From a very young age, Wilbur and Orville dedicated their time and effort to different jobs tied to their passions. One of their earliest endeavors was a bicycle sales and repair business in Dayton, Ohio. Of course, they didn't just focus on repairs; they gave free rein to their irrepressible imagination. The pair of siblings began designing and building their own bicycles, gaining a reputation as skilled engineers and raising money to finance their experiments with flight.
5
All kinds of innovations
Image: Iqbal Pohan
On their path to becoming pioneering aviators, the Wright brothers made important contributions to transportation in many different ways.
Before them, bicycle wheels functioned adequately but often broke down and required regular maintenance. Luckily, Orville and Wilbur's ingenuity came to the rescue. The brothers created a system of greaseable wheel hubs, which provided better lubrication and, therefore, reduced the risk of failure. This innovation made bicycle maintenance less frequent and much more convenient.
6
Coin toss
Image: Derrick Treadwell
Sometimes, fate must be left to chance —and that’s exactly what Wilbur and Orville Wright did at a crucial historical moment.
When they had already succeeded in creating a machine capable of flying and transporting them, it was time for the test. But they couldn't decide which of them would be the first to test their invention, so they let a coin decide.
The coin toss declared Wilbur, the elder brother, as the first to fly their aircraft. However, that first attempt failed. So, On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville piloted the Wright Flyer for 12 seconds, covering a distance of 120 feet and becoming the first man to do so in history.
7
$1,000 plane
Image: History in HD
Did you know that the Wright Flyer—that impressive creation that allowed humans to fly sustainably for the first time in history—cost about $1,000?
That's right! For such an achievement, that price could be considered modest, right? However, the brothers worked very hard to reach their goal.
As you know, the money from their bicycle business, along with income from other ventures, provided the funds they needed to acquire the parts for numerous prototypes, conduct countless tests, and finally build and launch their spectacular airplane.
8
Together
Image: Chalo Garcia
Wilbur and Orville were inseparable since childhood, yet as surprising as it may seem, the brothers only flew together in an aircraft once! This historic event took place on October 5, 1905, when they flew the Wright Flyer III.
It seems it was crucial for one brother to pilot the aircraft while the other stayed on the ground, watching over the flight to ensure the other's safety. Although one stayed on the ground while the other soared through the air, all their work was the outcome of a careful and dedicated team effort.
9
Single
Image: Jack Douglass
As you might expect, the Wright brothers' intense focus on their work left little time for other pursuits, including love.
A fun fact about their personal lives is that neither Wilbur nor Orville ever married. While they formed friendships and social connections throughout their lives, there are no known partners, romantic relationships, or commitments of that nature. One thing is clear: the Wright brothers' one and only true passion was their work!
10
Neil Armstrong souvenir
Image: NASA
Wilbur and Orville’s dream was to reach as high as they could—and so they did. However, their memory not only reached the skies but went beyond that and also reached the moon!
That's right, it was Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, who carried a memento of the Wright brothers on his mission aboard Apollo 11. When the astronaut achieved the iconic feat of reaching the moon on July 20, 1969, he had with him a small piece of fabric from the Wright brothers' 1903 Flyer.
Through that small gesture, Armstrong honored the memory of his fellow Americans who, just like him, took a giant leap for humankind.
