The Wright brothers, Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbur (1867-1912), were two American brothers who are credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful motor-operated airplane.

They made the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903, four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Key aspects of their success included:

• Aerodynamic understanding: They conducted extensive wind tunnel experiments to understand and design effective airfoils (wings).
• Control systems: They developed a system of wing warping (later replaced by ailerons) combined with a rudder that allowed the pilot to control the aircraft's roll, pitch, and yaw.
• Engine design: They designed and built their own lightweight gasoline engine to power their aircraft.

The Wright brothers' invention revolutionized transportation and paved the way for the development of modern aviation.

More information is available on the following sites:

• NASA - The Wright Brothers
• The Wright Brothers Foundation