Wright brothers

Orville Wright, one of the Wright brothers, was born in 1860.

Wilbur Wright was born to Reverend Milton Wright and Susan Catherine Koerner Wright near Millville, Indiana. He was the third child in the family.

Wilbur and Orville Wright were inspired by a rubber band powered toy helicopter brought home by their father, Milton Wright. This toy sparked their interest in flight, as it flew across the room unexpectedly.

On April 21, 1892, the Wright Cycle Company was established by the Wright brothers. This marked the beginning of their involvement in various business ventures.

Wilbur and Orville attend World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago where the aeronautical exhibit draws their interest.

The Smithsonian Institution attempts to fly a manned version of the Aerodrome aircraft, but the attempt is unsuccessful.

On June 26, 1901, Octave Chanute, a civil engineer and aeronautical pioneer, meets the Wright brothers for the first time in Dayton. This meeting marks the beginning of a significant relationship between Chanute and the Wrights.

Between September 28 and November 12, the Wright brothers conducted experiments with their 1902 glider, testing its aerodynamic capabilities and making improvements for future designs.

On August 19, a memorial dedicated to Wilbur and Orville Wright was established in Dayton near Huffman Prairie.

The Wright brothers start conducting experiments with propellers and commence the construction of their 1903 four-cylinder engine.

From October 9 to November 4, the Wright brothers assembled the 1903 machine and installed the engine, a crucial step towards achieving powered flight.

Between November 5 and December 9, the propeller shafts of the Wright brothers' aircraft broke twice, leading them to return to Dayton for repairs and replacements, highlighting the challenges faced during early aviation experiments.

On December 14, Wilbur Wright made the first attempted flight with a powered machine from the slope of Big Kill Devil Hill, but the machine stalled after 3-1/2 seconds in the air, marking an initial setback in their quest for sustained flight.

Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered flight in history on December 17, 1903. This groundbreaking event marked the beginning of modern aviation.

On October 5, Wilbur Wright achieved the longest flight of the year, covering 24-1/5 miles in 39 minutes and 23-4/5 seconds at an average speed of thirty-eight miles per hour.

On May 22, 1906, the U.S. Patent Office awarded the Wright brothers patent No. 821,393 for their flying machine, recognizing their innovative contributions to aviation.

On January 27, the Wright brothers submit their bid to the U.S. Signal Corps to supply a heavier-than-air flying machine meeting specific requirements.

The Wright brothers signed a contract with the United States government for the purchase of a heavier than air flying machine. Their bid to furnish a flying machine to the U.S. War Department for $25,000 was accepted.

Wilbur wins the 1908 Michelin Cup and a prize of twenty thousand francs by flying 123 kilometers, 200 meters in two hours, 18 minutes, 33-3/5 seconds. He extends this flight to set a new world record by flying 124 kilometers, 700 meters in two hours, 20 minutes, 23-1/5 seconds.

Wilbur Wright arrives in Pau, France on January 14. Orville and Katharine Wright join him a few days later.

The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, are awarded the Congressional Medal on March 4 by resolution of Congress for their significant contributions to the science of aerial navigation with the invention of the Wright aeroplane.

Wilbur Wright arrives in Rome on April 1 to conduct demonstration flights and train Italian pilots. Orville and Katharine Wright also arrive on April 9.

Flugmaschine Wright Gesellschaft, the German Wright company in Berlin, was established on May 13, 1909.

A two-day celebration was organized by the city of Dayton on June 17-18, 1909, to commemorate the achievements of the Wright brothers. The event included parades, concerts, honors, and fireworks.

On June 20, 1909, Wilbur and Orville Wright arrived in Washington, D.C. to resume trial flights at Fort Myer for the U.S. government. This marked a significant moment in the Wright brothers' aviation endeavors.

On June 26, 1909, Glenn H. Curtiss made the first commercial sale of an airplane in the United States by selling his Curtiss airplane to the Aeronautic Society of New York for $7,500. This transaction initiated the Wrights' legal battle against Curtiss over patents.

Wilbur Wright begins training the first U.S. Army fliers at College Park, Maryland, marking a significant milestone in military aviation history.

The Wright Company is officially formed to manufacture airplanes, with Wilbur Wright as president and Orville Wright as vice president. They sell their American patent rights to the company for $100,000, 40 percent of the company stock, and a 10 percent royalty for each airplane produced.

The Wright Brothers were honored with medals from the National, State, and City authorities in recognition of their groundbreaking invention of the aeroplane.

Wilbur Wright passed away due to typhoid fever in 1912.

Wilbur Wright, one of the pioneering Wright Brothers, passed away due to Typhoid Fever.

On August 7, 1916, the Wright Company merged with the Glenn L. Martin Company, forming the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation. Orville Wright took on the role of chief consultant engineer in the newly formed company.

On January 29, 1920, President Wilson appointed Orville Wright as a member of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Orville served in this role until his passing in 1948, contributing to the advancement of aeronautical research and development.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge signs an act to construct a monument in honor of the Wright brothers on Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Orville Wright attends the dedication of Kill Devil Hill National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, honoring the Wright brothers.

Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded to Orville and Wilbur Wright presented to Orville by Secretary of War Dwight F. Davis.

Orville Wright, co-founder of the Wright Aeronautical Corporation, is recognized as one of the 12 greatest living Americans in a New York Times poll.

The Wright brothers' home and bicycle shop, relocated from Dayton to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, are dedicated as a memorial to the Wrights.

On the 35th anniversary of the first flight, Henry Ford, founder of The Ford Motor Company, visits Orville at Hawthorn Hill in Dayton.

On October 24, 1944, the Smithsonian Institution published a brochure retracting previous statements regarding the Langley machine, resolving the controversy with the Wright brothers.

Orville Wright passed away in 1948, marking the end of an era for aviation pioneers.