Celebrate Orville Wrights Birthday: Fun facts for kids and loads of resources

August 19th is a very special day in aviation history. Besides National Aviation Day, it is also Orville Wright’s birthday.

Orville was born on August 19, 1871, and his brother, Wilbur, was born on April 16, 1867.   The brothers, who owned the Wright Cycle Co. bicycle business, also had a vision and a dream that would one day change the course of history. After years of trial and error, the brothers built a full-size “flying machine.” 

The two headed to North Carolina where the winds were strong and soft sand was abundant.  On December 17, 1903, the brothers departed for Kitty Hawk to attempt four test flights. Since Orville won the coin toss,  he’d be the first one to test the Wright Flyer. Although the flight lasted just 12 seconds, the flight made history. Each subsequent test flight lasted a bit longer than the previous one. Wilbur flew the final flight,  lasting 59 seconds,  which flew 852 feet before a hard landing. On that day, the brothers were the very first people in history to make a “controlled and sustained flight in a power-driven, heavier-than-air aircraft. “

Wright Brothers Day is celebrated annually on December 17th.  Because of their vision, imagination, determination and hard work, the Wright Brothers soared into history, reaching unimaginable heights which forever changed our world.

All About the Wright Brothers:

• Wright Brothers National Park – Located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
• The Wright Brothers Timeline – From TIME Magazine.
• The Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company – A virtual museum of pioneer aviation.
• The Wright Brothers Collections – See photographs, awards, medals, manuscripts and more.
• First Flight Society
• Wright Brothers Patents
• NOVA Wright Brothers Flying Machine – From PBS, this website includes interactives, slide shows and many resources.
• U.S. Centennial of Flight – Jam-packed with information, including flight logs.
• The Wright Experience

The Wright Brothers Activities for Children

• Wright Brothers Coloring – Color this picture online.
• Wright Brothers Jigsaw Puzzle
• The Wright Puzzle – A printable crossword puzzle for kids.
• Sky Pioneers: The Story of Wilbur and Orville Wright – Read this story, online or offline, by Jeanne Lemonnier Gardner.
• Paper Airplane
• A is for Airplane Puzzle – This online puzzle is for young children.
• P is for Pilot Handwriting Sheet – Practice your “p’s” with this printable coloring page.

• Send a free electronic greeting card

• National Aviation Day
• International Youth Day
• International Forgiveness Day
• Women’s Equality Day
• National Lighthouse Day
• World Breastfeeding Week
• Celebrate Orville Wrights Birthday
• International Lefthander’s Day- Write On!
• It’s National S’mores Day – Celebrate with Decadent Recipes, Delish Dishes and More S’mores
• National Watermelon Day
• Celebrate Cupcake Day with To-Die-For Cupcakes!
• Celebrate Ramadan with Ramadan Recipes and Ideas for the Kids