The invention of the airplane by Wilbur and Orville Wright is one of the great stories in American history. The Wright brothers’ invention not only solved a long-studied technical problem but helped create an entirely new world. The success of the 1903 Wright Flyer is perhaps one of the most iconic stories from American history. The Wright brothers made their first public flights in Europe and America in 1908, bringing their invention to the masses. More than a century after they invented the airplane, Wilbur and Orville Wright are still a part of our national cultural identity and the Wright Flyer remains an icon of ingenuity and technical creativity.

Source: Smithsonian