How Did the Wright Brothers Change the World?
Wilbur and Orville Wright changed the world through their invention of the first heavier-than-air flying machine. This invention opened the world for aviation to begin and advance. Airplanes have since impacted many facets of life including travel, commerce, war and communication.
The Wright brothers owned a bike shop in Dayton, Ohio, before making strides in aviation. They began testing both manned and unmanned gliders, and on Dec. 17, 1903, they had their first successful flights. The first flight lasted only 12 seconds, and the plane only travelled 120 feet. However, the next test flight lasted 59 seconds, and Wilbur was able to pilot the biplane 892 feet. Numerous improvements over the next five years sparked the military to sign a contract with the Wright brothers to begin the building of the first military aircraft.
One of the most important technological contributions that the brothers made to aviation was three-axis control. This type of steering enables the pilot to steer the plane while maintaining its equilibrium. This is still a feature on many planes. Aviation made travel between large distances significantly easier; the Wright brothers paved the way for modern travel which can take people almost anywhere in the world by air. Furthermore, their inventions forever changed war by adding a new dimension to it: aerial warfare.
