Innovation
“If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance.”

—Orville Wright


Orville and Wilbur Wright were born four years apart and grew up in Dayton, Ohio. Two of seven children, the brothers found a common bond when their father, who traveled often, brought home a toy “helicopter.” Based on an invention by Alphonse Pénaud, a French aeronautical pioneer, the device was made of paper and bamboo with a rubber band to twirl its rotor. After playing with the toy until it eventually broke, Orville and Wilbur decided to construct their own. Years later, the brothers pointed to this experience as the beginning of their interest in flying.

The boys weren’t particularly successful in school and neither received his high school diploma. Instead, they built their own printing press and started a printing business where they published newspapers. When the national bicycle craze took hold in 1892, Orville and Wilbur opened a bike repair and sales shop in Dayton. The brothers went on to manufacture their own bicycle brand and used the money to fund their growing interest in flight.

The mechanical skills they learned through their early endeavors proved invaluable later on. In 1899, drawing on the work of Leonardo da Vinci, Chanute and Sir George Cayley, among others, they began experimenting with aeronautics. In the years that followed, Orville and Wilbur conducted extensive glider tests that also developed their piloting skills. Through these test flights they began to realize that developing a better method for pilot control was the key to fixing the flying problem.

Today the Wright brothers are credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane. They are also known for making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight. While Orville and Wilbur were certainly not the first to fly experimental aircraft, their invention of the three-axis control, which enabled pilots to steer the aircraft and maintain equilibrium, was a major breakthrough. This same technology remains standard on fixed-wing airplanes today, proving that the right idea will fly!

Innovation. Pass It On!

This billboard about Innovation features Wright Brothers; Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbur (1867-1912); entrepreneurs, airplane inventors.

Pass It On®

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Your Comments
skibidi from rizzler SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
first person to say what the sigma on pass it on

puddinandtame from ask me again and I will tell you the same JANUARY 15, 2022
I do not agree with this crap

Damar from New Jersey JUNE 11, 2021
I chose this one because it's letting you that all the right ideas always will succeed.

Barry Wilkes from Maryland MAY 7, 2021
Amen All we need is love love is all we need Love is in need of Love Today don't delay we need to do this right away

Sheila from Stratford  JANUARY 29, 2021
Family Advertising was is great , this one as well. More of family orientation would be fabulous

Anonymous SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
inspirational

Jenna Herritt from Kent state APRIL 14, 2020
Great tribute to the 2 airplane creators.

mimi from none NOVEMBER 8, 2018
this was very ispirational

Joesph Wright from North Carolina MARCH 9, 2018
I know alot about them because I am related to the Wright brothers

Anonymous OCTOBER 25, 2017
It's amazing that they did this without even a high school diploma. They used only their mechanical knowledge acquired by repairing bicycles

Liz from Pratfalls  DECEMBER 9, 2016
That's so cool

Sander from Hawaii  OCTOBER 5, 2016
Love it

Larenz from North Carolina  OCTOBER 5, 2016
I think that they really tried hard and I will try to do something new to

Anonymous OCTOBER 3, 2016
cool

Timmy from USA MAY 23, 2016
This story fasinated me always. The brothers were amazing people who helped the world a lot.

Cinderella from Japan APRIL 1, 2016
Love it

Bob from Canada APRIL 1, 2016
Smartest idea ever

jack FEBRUARY 17, 2016
this is an amazing thing because they overcame the odds.

wright from brothers DECEMBER 10, 2015
this is amazing

Gamer from Miramar Ranch elementry school NOVEMBER 2, 2015
Innovation means to create new ideas or new ways to apply an existing idea. The Wright brothers did the "right" job at making the plane.

Me NOVEMBER 2, 2015
Great qoute

Anonymous OCTOBER 6, 2015
really cool

Morgan from School OCTOBER 1, 2015
Wow

Chloe from SLC SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
I love how creative and innovative they were. Anyone can create something, you just have to have dedication and effort.

Matthew McConaughey from California SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
What an amazing story of invention and sticking with your goals.

Manny Martinez from Cmms SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Really inspiring

Manny from Martinez, cmms SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Very Wright (;

William SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
I find this so inspiring

Alice SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
This is pretty rad.

Franklin from Los Santos APRIL 8, 2014
I have a dog named Chop:)

Ohodgee Nieves from Hartford,CT FEBRUARY 15, 2014
I didn't heard much of the Wright Brothers but I didn't learn about them in my history classes.

Seth from Pennsylvania FEBRUARY 6, 2014
~Dreams may not come true, but they remain in our hearts~

bryse from houma OCTOBER 15, 2013
this is cool

Spencer Metz from MLG Superstar SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
You cannot be too young or too old to start living your dream.

Jerry Waldrop from West Melbourne, FL JULY 5, 2013
For those that give their lives so that we may live in freedom and happiness, only our dedication to their accomplishment can we ensure our future will survive

Angeline FEBRUARY 25, 2013
I like the billboard that says the right idea will fly and the commercial that is called classroom I think this website is cool.I will join more often.

K. Wright from Florida AUGUST 12, 2012
Wilbur and Orville are my ancestors!

J.C.Aqfaq from Finland JULY 14, 2012
I saw this on my holiday trip in the US last year and took a photo. The Wright Brothers and Leonardo da Vinci are my heroes. They are inspiring me while developing new tech trying to solve world energy crisis. Thank you!

bailey from indy MARCH 22, 2012
This is really cool!

Kimberly from La FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Beatiful!

Lars from Orange County, Calif NOVEMBER 21, 2011
Saw this one on bus stop wall in Orange County, CA...looking good!

SL from USA OCTOBER 26, 2011
Love this!!!

Michael from Canada JUNE 24, 2011
Thank you :)

Alev from Newmarket JUNE 22, 2011
Cool


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