Wilbur Wright 150 -- April 16, 2017

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Wilbur Wright, who with his brother Orville, built the first airplane capable of fully controlled flight, was born 150 years ago today, 16-April-1867.  The two brothers grew up in Ohio and showed a great talent for mechanics, building a printing press and building and selling bicycles.  They became interested in flying machines and approached their work using scientific methods.  They build a wind tunnel and test airfoil sections and realized that a propeller was a rotating wing.  They build gliders to test their mechanism for three-axis control.  On 17-December-1903, they flew the heavier than air Wright Flyer under control, taking off and landing without external assistance. 

The brothers worked to improve their flying machines and build a business.  Wilbur toured Europe and made many demonstration flights.  Wilbur died of typhoid on 30-May-1912.