Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867, near Millville, Indiana. His fatheris Milton Wright, His mother is Koerner Wright. As a child, Wilbur's playmate was his younger brother, Orville, born in 1871. Milton Wright's often brought back small toys for his children. In 1878 he brought back a small model helicopter for his boys. Made of cork, bamboo and paper, and powered by a rubber band to twirl its blades, the model was based on a design by the French aeronautical pioneer Alphonse Pénaud. Fascinated by the toy and its mechanics, Wilbur and Orville would develop a lifelong love of aeronautics and flying.