Wright, Orville
Along with his brother Wilbur, he invented, built, and flew the world's first successful airplane.
Most quoted
"The first successful flight was made on December 17, 1903. We were in the air for 12 seconds and flew 120 feet. It was the first time in the history of the world that a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started."
— from Official statement/letter, 1903
"The first flight lasted only 12 seconds, but it was nevertheless the first in the history of the world in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and had finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started."
— from Letter to his father, December 17, 1903, 1903
"The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their tedious travels across prairies and mountains and deserts, looked enviously at the birds soaring freely through space, at the swiftness of their flight, and at the ease with which they seemingly moved at will through the air."
— from Speech to the Aero Club of America, 1908
All quotes by Wright, Orville (384)
The public is very enthusiastic about our invention.
It is a great satisfaction to see our efforts crowned with success.
We have always worked together as a team.
The greatest joy is in the discovery.
We have faced many difficulties, but we have overcome them all.
The air is an ocean, and we are its navigators.
Imagination is the beginning of creation.
The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors.
We are not afraid to try new things.
The machine is a tool, but the mind is the master.
We have opened a new era in human history.
The world will never be the same.
We have been very careful in our experiments.
The wind tunnel has been invaluable.
We have made many calculations and tests.
The control of the machine is the most important thing.
We are constantly striving for perfection.
The joy of creation is immense.
We have always believed in ourselves.
The sky is no longer the limit.
Contemporaries of Wright, Orville
Other Inventions born within 50 years of Wright, Orville (1871–1948).