Orville and Wilbur had two elder brothers Reuchlin (1861-1920) and Lorin (1862-1939), and a younger sister Katharine (1874-1929). Their parents were Bishop Milton Wright (1828-1917) and Susan Catherine (Koerner) Wright (1831-1889). Their father worked as a minister in various churches, and as a consequence the family frequently moved around. Their father encouraged his children to read widely and discuss issues. This climate of intellectual creativity and stimulus encouraged the Wright brothers to pursue a range of interests and studies. When they were young, their father bought them a small ‘helicopter’ – built in France. They later commented that this helicopter sparked an interest in flight and they sought to build similar models themselves.
Around 1885, Wilbur became withdrawn after sustaining a facial injury during a game of ice-hockey. This injury and the resulting depression caused Wilbur to give up his dreams of studying at Yale. Instead he remained close to home, helping his father with ministerial tasks and looking after his ill mother.
However, Orville was determined to try new things, and his enthusiasm helped draw his brother Wilbur into new projects. In 1889, they designed and built a printing press which, for a short time, published a daily newspaper.
In 1892, the capitalised on the ‘safety bicycle’ boom and opened a bicycle shop. This was commercially successful, but also enabled them to develop their skills as designers and engineers.
Around the turn of the century, there was great interest in the possibility of flight. Most of this centred on gliders. But, the Wright brothers began to explore the possibility of mechanised flight with heavier than air aircraft.
They concentrated on a building a more powerful, but light engine and worked on an innovative design for controlling the plane once airborne.
They used funds from the bicycle shop to start testing at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina a rural place where it was more windy which helped give planes lift off. They made extensive tests and also recorded a range of data about possible flights.