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Wilbur Wright
Wilbur Wright is born is born on a farm not far from New Castle, Indiana. -
Orville Wright
Orville Wright is born in Dayton, Ohio. -
Machines
Wilbur writes to Octave Chanute-civil engineer, aerial experimenter, and author of the book Progress in Flying Machines (1894), to describe the system of control the Wrights had been using in their kite experiments. The letter marked the beginning of a long friendship between the Wrights and Chanute that would last until May 1910, several months before Chanute's death on November 23. -
Kitty Hawk
The Wright brothers visit Kitty Hawk, a town located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, for the first time. They selected this location because it provided them with the high winds and isolation they needed to conduct their experiments. During this time period, the brothers tested their 1900 glider with mixed success. -
Outer Banks of North Carolina
The Wrights return to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, to test their 1901 glider at Kill Devil Hill, near Kitty Hawk. The unsuccessful results of their experiments with the glider led Orville to proclaim that, "Not within a thousand years would man ever fly". -
conducting propeller
Orville and Wilbur commence plans for a new flying machine to be equipped with motor and propellers by conducting propeller experiments and beginning construction of a four-cylinder engine. -
test the 1903 motor
The Wright brothers and their mechanic, Charles Taylor, complete and begin to test the 1903 motor. The motor's body and frame crack during the tests and it is determined that a new aluminum casting is needed. -
Orville and Wilbur
Orville and Wilbur start to assemble their 1903 machine at Kill Devil Hill. -
Wilbur first and unsuccessful attempt to fly
Wilbur makes the first and unsuccessful attempt to fly with the power machine from the slope of Kill Devil Hill.