The brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright were fascinated by human flight. Their first powered airplane, ‘The Wright Flyer’, was tested at Kitty Hawk in 1903. Wilbur’s first flight was on 14 December 1903 but stalled and crashed. Three days later, after repairs, Orville flew to 540ft and landed safely after 12 seconds: the first powered flight in aviation history. Fearing competition, the brothers declined to demonstrate for the US Army, travelling to France in 1908 to prove their aircraft to be far superior to their European competitors. A tragedy soon followed when a passenger died in a crash, but the brothers persevered, working together until in 1912 when Wilbur died from typhoid. Orville sold the Wright Company in 1915, devoting his time to research until he died at the age of 76. AUTHOR: Mike Roussel has previously written Joe Smith: Spitfire’s Forgotten Designer for The History Press, as well as co authoring Shipwrecks of the Cunard Line and The Union Castle Line. He is an active supporter of Solent Sky Aviation Museum. He lives in Southampton. SELLING POINTS: . The latest in the successful series, revamped with a stylish new cover design . Packed with facts, figures and little-known details as well as a multituide of colourful illustrations . Filling the gap with an accessible, brief account of these pioneers in human powered flight . Looks at the other early pioneers of flight, and follows the work of the brothers from 1898 to the First World War . Did You Know? The brothers tossed a coin to decide who would man the Wirght Flyer for the first test flight 100 col and b/w illustrations