Up to the end of the eighteenth century, controlled and powerful flight was thought of as something that was not possible because of the power of gravity that made any heavy objects not to rise above the ground and remain suspended for quite sometime. However, a Scientist - Orville Wright – dispelled that belief on the 17th December, 1903 after several experiments that came to a climax; which marked the beginning of the success of Mr. Wright. His engineering wisdom which had gone beyond the experimental ways of his colleagues had helped him achieve his aim. With only meager resources at his disposal, he and his brother Wilbur proved a great deal of scientific intelligence.

The Wright Brothers had years before then, been developing and experimenting with gliders along the Carolina shore, regularly employing the assistance of locals and community residents. They had to do so because of the enormous tasks involved as there was wood to move and assemble; heavy gliders to carry up hills and heaps of sand for launch along the banks of the rivers. There was simply so much to do, to actualize their dream that was to evolve to a multi-billion dollar business worldwide. So the presence of these resident helpers went a long way. As brilliant scientists, the Wrights were consistently careful with their work and still took time out to make documents of their failures and accomplishments. Some were done with films from the type of camera in use at that time. The camera was aimed at strategic and well positioned shots at every successful stage.

A few days to that day, the Wright brothers and a makeshift crew on the ground that acted as volunteers had made the first attempt. With Wilbur at the helm, the flyer hitched shortly after take-off and fell on the shore’s sand. Turn after turn, the brothers successfully completed a total of four flights in one day, with the longest enduring less than a minute. Then around mid-morning, with Orville lying flat in the world’s first cockpit, the flight soared and lasted for about twelve seconds after traveling a hundred and twenty feet from the ground. It was a feat to be recorded in man’s flight history.

Apart from the brothers, five other people were on hand to help the Wrights. One of them – a farmer - and an out of town visitor, had simply wandered to the Wright’s “test field” while the three others were workers in a nearby Lifesaving Station, who had walked all the way to assist the brothers with improvised flight equipment like rail, ropes and guide wires. When the brothers’ test flights did not produce much success as they had expected; they had to go back to the drawing board to review the first flight principles they knew. Afterwards, they designed what is now known as propellers in the form of an aerofoil.

In the process of improving their scientific knowledge and prowess, the Wright brothers designed a flyer to protect them from injuries as they learned how to fly. Both brothers, Wilbur and Orville, became more efficient and confident in their primitive but effective flight operations. Thus they gradually became very skilled and were prepared to exchange instability in normal flight activity with increased control in turbulent weather conditions. Further developments in the course of their experiments saved the Wright brothers from serious accidents as they tried to improve on the flights.

There is no doubt that the Wright Brothers made an invention worthy of Nobel Prizes for each of them; that is if such a prize did exist in their days. Their insight, intelligence and persistence kick-started and gave rise to the modern type of aviation being enjoyed by millions all over the world. They continued the experiments for a few more years before death separated both of them when Wilbur died of typhoid fever in 1912. Orville however lived until 1948 so one could say that Wilbur lived long enough to see his invention evolve and develop; something every inventor dreams of, but rarely experiences. Because of this, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operates a Boeing 747 named in honor of Wilbur Wright and in recognition of the role played by the Wright duo in the invention of the aviation industry.