Orville Wright
Orville Wright was an American aviation pioneer who, with his brother Wilbur, developed and flew the first successful controlled, powered airplanes.
Wright Flyer: The Wright brothers’ 1903 aircraft that made the first sustained, controlled flight by a powered, heavier-than-air machine. Orville piloted its first powered flight at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903.
Three-axis control: Control of an aircraft’s roll, pitch, and yaw around three perpendicular axes. Orville and Wilbur coordinated these controls to maneuver their aircraft rather than merely keep it aloft.
Wilbur Wright: An American aviation pioneer who developed and flew early controlled powered aircraft with his brother Orville. Wilbur was Orville’s closest collaborator in aircraft design, experiments, and flight.
Wright Company: An American aircraft manufacturer founded by the Wright brothers in 1909. Orville helped establish the company to build and sell aircraft based on their designs.
1902 Wright Glider: The Wright brothers’ glider whose three-axis controls established the basis for their powered aircraft. Orville helped test the design that solved the problem of controlling a glider in flight.
Wing warping: A method of controlling aircraft roll by twisting the wings to change their lift unequally. The Wrights used wing warping in their early aircraft to initiate turns and correct sideways drift.
Katharine Wright: The younger sister of Orville and Wilbur Wright, who supported their work and helped manage their public affairs. She supported Orville and Wilbur during their European and American demonstrations.
Wright brothers patent war: A series of patent disputes over aircraft-control technology involving the Wright brothers and other aviation firms. Orville pursued patent claims that shaped the early American aircraft industry.
Wright Flyer III: The Wright brothers’ 1905 airplane, capable of sustained, controlled flight and practical maneuvering. Orville’s 1905 flights demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to fly in circles and remain aloft.
Canard (aeronautics): An aircraft configuration with a small horizontal control surface ahead of the main wings. The Wright Flyer placed its elevator at the front, where Orville controlled pitch.