Did you know? Before revolutionizing aviation, the Wright brothers were in the bicycle business!
In 1892, Orville and Wilbur Wright opened a bicycle shop, using the profits to fund their aviation experiments. Their hands-on experience designing lightweight, precision machines laid the groundwork for their leap into flight.
Their fascination with aviation began in childhood when their father gifted them a rubber-band-powered toy helicopter. That small spark of curiosity led them to test gliders, conducting nearly 1,000 flights to study lift and drag.
The breakthrough came when they engineered an efficient propeller and lightweight engine. On December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, they made history. Their aircraft, the Flyer, lifted off for a mere 12 seconds, covering just 120 feet—but it changed the world forever.
From that first flight, aviation evolved into an industry that connects people and businesses across the globe. The Wright brothers’ journey is a testament to how great products need great engineers.