The Wright Brothers When the words aircraft, airplane, glider, or plane enter a conversation the first thought that comes to mind is Orville and Wilbur Wright. Wilbur, the oldest, was born on April 16, 1867 in New Castle, Indiana and Orville was born four years later on August 19, 1871 in Dayton, Ohio. (Porter 736) The two dropped out of high school before receiving their diploma and became interested in mechanical devices, (“Wright Brothers”) which after the death of Otto Lilienthal in 1896, led them to pursue flying mechanisms. (“Wright” 60) Between the years of 1900 and 1902 the two tested gliders and produced the first reliabl