The Wright Brothers

If you asked a group of people who the most important scientist of all time was, you would get a number of answers. People would have very different opinions on the most important inventions, which creates an argument over the most important scientist of all time. To me, the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, are the two greatest scientists in history, as they were the first humans to experience the thrill of flight in a motorized vehicle. The first humans to fly were in a hot air balloon, but flying in a balloon does not have nearly as many advantages as riding in a plane.

“The Wright Brothers created their own bicycle shops, known as the Wright Cycle Co. By the turn of the 19th century, they owned many bicycle shops throughout the country. One of these shops was building wings to make planes as well as bikes (Gates, 1999)”. These wings were used to build the first planes ever. The brothers shared a vision of human flight, they felt it was in reach, and their goal was to soar like birds through the air.

Brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright

They began their quest towards flight as children. “They created kites made from wood, wire, and cloth; these kites reached wingspans of up to 5 feet (Gates, 1999)”. This urged them on to find a way to discover human flight. They created the earth’s first successful airplane. “It was created in 1903, and made the first successful flight at Kitty Hawk, NC. The Wright Flyer made four flights, the best covering 852 feet, in 59 seconds (Smithsonian).”

This plane was the beginning of flight for humans. They not only got the machine to fly, but they evolved the technology of flight. The only technology up till their time was flying in a balloon, they discovered much more about flying. Their research and findings, put in place the basic design for future planes, including the planes we use today. They created a machine that would be a much faster form of transformation for people, allowing us to travel across the country, or even across the world, in hours, rather than months. It was also another weapon for war, except this weapon was in the air, allowing the US and other countries to battle in the sky.

If you don’t agree that they aren’t the greatest scientists of all time, then find someone who has invented something more useful to us today. No, they didn’t create the 747, but they were the inventors to the first flying plane, allowing others after them to make improvements. They proved the concepts, while the scientists following them made improvements. You must consider them the greatest scientists of all time.