The Wright Brothers
When you hear a plane fly overhead, it may not seem like a big deal, but just over 100
years ago, airplanes were a novel idea.
Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867. On August 19, 1871, his little brother
Orville Wright was born. The pair paved the way for human flight.
When the two boys were young, their father brought home a toy “helicopter” for
Orville and Wilbur. The foot-long toy was made of paper bamboo, cork, and a rubber band.
When the toy broke, Wilbur and Orville built their own. Building the toy interested them in
flying.
The two boys opened a bicycle shop in 1892, but still remained interested in aviation.
Wilbur began creating plans based on observations of birds and the work of other scientists.
The Wright Brothers began testing their theories about flight with kites. Finally, the brothers
Comprehension Questions: 1. Who piloted the first successful flight?
2. What spurred the Wright‟s interest in flight?
3. Where did they test their new glider?
4. Why did they take the glider to the Kitty Hawk?
5. How did Wilbur get ideas for his plans?
6. What was the significance of the Wright Brothers inventions especially in the field of transportation?
7. How did the author develop the topic?
8. What supporting details were used to develop it?