Orville And Wilbur Wright

Everyone knows the story of the Wright Brothers. Or do they? This biography conveys the well-known and the lesser-known facts about Orville and Wilbur's lives, and does so by weaving the biographical information into a wonderful story. The evocative illustrations combine with the storytelling prowess of Lewis Helfand to relate the Wright Brothers' joint biography in a way never done before.

First Flight is a documentary about the controversy over the world's first motorized flight. Every school child is taught that the brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright flew first in December 1903.

In 1903, the Wright Brothers set the scene for aviation's advances and influence barnstormer, Pat Falconer (Fred MacMurray) and his friend, engineer Scott Barnes (Ray Milland). Falconer marries childhood sweetheart Peggy Ransom (Louise Campbell) although Barnes also loves her, but is unwilling to jeopardize his relationship with his friend.
During World War I, Falconer becomes a fighter pilot and after the war continues to fly by "the seat-of-his-pants" rather than do the methodical work of flight research like Barnes. As the 1930s come to a close, restless Falconer leaves his family and friend behind, taking off for China to fight Japanese invaders.

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright soared into history during a twelve-second flight on a secluded North Carolina beach. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first flight, these essays chart the central role that aviation played in twentieth-century history and capture the spirit of innovation and adventure that has characterized the history of flight.