The Wright Brothers are recognised almost universally as the first to fly a heavier-than-air powered aeroplane on 17 December 1903 at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina. Unfortunately their protectionism and demand for fees from aviators flying any aeroplane in America delayed aviation progress there for years.

Their arch-rival was Glenn Curtiss and they followed him in establishing an exhibition team to market their aeroplanes. The majority of daredevil aviators of the 'exhibition era' flew Curtiss or Wright aeroplanes.

To see a short description of each pioneer, please 'left click' on the images below

Wilbur & Orville Wright

Aerial Experiment Association

Glenn Curtiss

Charles Willard

Charles Hamilton

Lincoln Beachey

Blanche Stuart Scott

Walter Brookins

Arch Hoxsey & Ralph Johnstone

John Moisant

William Wallace Gibson

Starling Burgess

Harry Atwood

Hugh Robinson

Eugene Ely

Harriet Quimby

Mathilde Moisant

Earle Ovington

Katherine Stinson

Cal Rodgers

Robert Fowler

Ruth Law

Tony Jannus