Orville and Wilbur Wright: Pioneers of the Age of Flight
Orville and Wilbur Wright PIONEERS OF THE AGE OF FLIGHT By Diane Dakers Crabtree Publishing Company www crabtreebooks com
44
Chapter 1 Eyes on the Skies One day in 1878 a pair of young brothers eagerly awaited their father’s return from a business trip Their father was a church minister He traveled often serving a variety of communities throughout the American Midwest When he came home from his trips he always brought souvenirs and trinkets for his children gifts designed to spark their imaginations and curiosity Sometimes the presents were as simple as a rock or other natural item Sometimes though Milton Wright brought special treats After this particular 1878 trip the gift he brought for his sons Wilbur and Orville sent their imaginations soaring Born Inventors Wilbur Wright was 11 years old and his brother Orville was seven the day their father Opposite Wilbur shown left in posed photo and Orville Wright often kept their pioneering work in aviation private But they also thrilled crowds sometimes numbering in the thousands at public events and demonstrations Images such as those shown here serve as a powerful reminder of the fact that every time the Wrights displayed their work to the public people marveled at machines and feats that only a year or so earlier could only be imagined A photographic illustration of Orville left and Wilbur Wright from a newspaper article published sometime after December 17 1903 when the Wrights flew the first powered aircraft capable of controlled flight 5
