Answer :
Final answer:
The Wright brothers progressed from studying control in kites and gliders beginning in 1899 to achieving the first powered flight in 1903 at Kitty Hawk. Further refining their designs, they successfully demonstrated their aircraft and formed the Wright company, paving the way for modern aviation including milestones such as Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in 1927.
Explanation:
Wilbur and Orville Wright, known as the pioneers of aviation, achieved the first powered flight through a series of important events and experiments. They began their investigation into flight in 1899, deeply influenced by the accidents involving gliders, particularly the death of Otto Lilienthal. Understanding the importance of control systems in flying machines, they conducted experiments with kites and developed the wing warping technique for aircraft maneuverability.
In 1900, their experiments advanced to testing gliders at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They discovered that long, narrow wings provided more lift than short, wide ones, which they incorporated into their powered aircraft designs.
By 1903, with their mechanical experience from operating a bicycle shop and without formal training in engineering, the Wright brothers had refined the three axis control method, which is pivotal in the steering of an aircraft. After overcoming mechanical challenges, they successfully completed four powered flights on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, with the longest flight covering over 850 feet.
Between 1903 and 1910, their continued improvements on the aircraft led to the development of the Wright Flyer and subsequent demonstration flights in France and the United States, cementing their status as aviation pioneers. Even as skepticism lingered around the practicality of long-distance air travel, advancements continued, and eventually, Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in 1927 dispelled these doubts.