The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were American inventors and pioneers in aviation. They owned a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, where they developed their mechanical skills and funded their aeronautical pursuits. In 1903, they achieved their historic milestone with the Wright Flyer, a biplane that completed a 12-second, 120-foot flight. The Wright Brothers’ invention ultimately revolutionized transportation, military, and commercial industries worldwide, and they are credited with inventing the first successful airplane.
Ohio and North Carolina both lay claim to the Wright Brothers, with Ohio’s license plates bearing the phrase “Birthplace of Aviation,” while North Carolina’s read “First in Flight.” This is due to the significant contributions that the Wright Brothers made in both states. While they constructed their groundbreaking aircraft in their home state of Ohio, it was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where they successfully executed the first controlled and powered flight.