Orville Wright (1871-1948), US aviation pioneer. Together with his brother Wilbur (1867-1912), Orville built and flew the first powered aircraft. Their first experiments, involving biplane kites and gliders, took place between 1899 and 1902, culminating in attaching a petrol engine and two propellers to one of their gliders. This aircraft, the Wright Flyer, made its first flight on 17 December 1903, with Orville at the controls. After this, the Wright brothers continued to develop their machines, flying publicly for the first time in 1908 near Le Mans, France. This photograph, from 1897, was taken before Wright grew a moustache.