Most people have heard of the Wright brothers and that fateful day in 1903 when they flew their powered airplane for the first time. But what got them interested in flight?

It all starts with their childhood. Wilbur Wright was born in April 1867, and Orville was born four years later in August. Their father, Milton, was a minister, who would often take extended trips away from his family.

From a young age, the Wrights were encouraged to learn about anything that interested them. In fact, Orville later realized that without this nurturing environment, they may not have ever decided to pursue aviation:

On the left, Orville Wright at 34 and on the right, Wilbur Wright at 38. Images via Library of Congress.

A drawing of the toy helicopter the Wright brothers played with during their childhood. Image © Smithsonian Institution

One day in 1878, upon returning home from a trip, Milton gave the boys a toy helicopter, powered by a rubber band. Upon being thrown in the air, the helicopter did not fall to the ground, but "struck the ceiling, where it fluttered awhile, and finally sank to the floor". The young children were fascinated by it. Although it quickly broke, Wilbur and Orville never forgot about it.

Several years later, in 1896, Orville became bedridden with typhoid fever. Coincidentally, Otto Lilienthal, another aviation pioneer, had died around the same time in a gliding accident. During that time, Wilbur and their sister Katharine spent long amounts of time taking care of Orville. Wilbur read aloud about Otto Lilienthal and his gliding experiments.

Being avid readers, the Wright brothers became very interested in flight, and quickly exhausted the resources available to them. In 1899, Wilbur Wright wrote to the Smithsonian Institution, requesting any available materials they might be able to supply to him.

Otto Lilienthal, Louis Pierre Moulliard, and others. Now fully interested in the problem of flight, the Wright brothers read works by other aeronautical pioneers, such as Octave Chanute, Samuel Langley,

In 1901, the Wright brothers personally met Octave Chanute, who proved to be a valuable mentor in their experiments. Chanute took great interest in the developments of the Wright brothers and was immediately able to see the potential they had.

Throughout their development of their gliders and airplanes, Wilbur and Orville never shied away from the importance of research. They never ceased to consult other publications and pioneers of flight. If it were not for those who came before them, the Wright brothers likely would not have found the success that they achieved.

On December 17th, 1903, the Wright brothers’ work finally paid off with the first powered, controlled flight.

Orville and Wilbur Wright in Kitty Hawk with Octave Chanute and Edward Huffaker, another glider maker. Image via Library of Congress.