Wright Flyer

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The Wright Flyer (often retrospectively referred to as Flyer I) was the first powered aircraft designed and built by the Wright Brothers. It had a motor built from scratch by their employee Charlie Taylor. It is generally considered to be the first successful powered, piloted aircraft.

Related Topics:
Wright Brothers - Charlie Taylor

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The aircraft was built in 1903 and was very different from a modern aircraft. The pilot, who flew lying on his stomach on the lower wing with his head towards the front of the craft, steered it by moving a cradle attached to his hips. The cradle pulled wires which warped the wings as the pilot shifted from one side to the other.

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After the four brief, low-altitude flights on the first day that the airplane flew, it was damaged by wind and never flew again.

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