Wilbur and Orville Wright's contributions to aviation were among the most important in our century. The invention of flight was first thought of hundreds of years ago, but look how long it took us. From 1903, when the Wrights flew an eight horsepowered plane until now when we fly a thirty ton plane that has thousands of horsepower, we have made incredible advances in the technology of aviation. The effects of the invention of the plane are beyond counting. The Wright Brothers made a difference in the world today from business, to mail, to vacations. Our lives today would not be the same without the Wright Brothers.
             Wilbur Wright was born in Millville, Indiana in April 16, 1867. His brother Orville was born four years later in Dayton, Ohio in August 19, 1821. They had two older brothers, Reuchlin and Lorin, and a younger sister named Katherine. Their parents were Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Koerner Wright. Their father was a minister of the United Brethren Church. Their mother was a housewife and was extremely good with her hands, which was obviously passed down to both Wilbur and Orville. Susan Wright died in 1889 of tuberculosis; Wilbur was 22, Orville 18. She, unfortunately, did not live long enough to see her sons' great success. Bishop Wright, on the other hand, did. He died of old age at age 88 and before he died he was flown in the air by both Wilbur and Orville.
             In 1878, at the ages of eleven and seven, their father gave the brothers a toy helicopter, which they played with until it broke. After it broke, the brothers were interested in how it flew. This is what started their interest in flight.
             In early 1889, at the age of 18, Orville dropped out of school to start his own printing shop. Wilbur soon joined and in March, they started their own newspaper, The Westside News. The press they used was built by Orville from items he found in the junkyard. He then built a second press from the ...