Wright Brother’s Propulsion Systems

The Wright Brothers were the first to fly a self-propelled, heavier than air machine. This essential the development of two other pieces of technology; a light weight motor and the propellers to push the aircraft through the air.

The brothers based their engine design on an early internal incineration engine for an automobile. The thin, high speed propellers which they considered were based on wind tunnel tests and were unlike any other propellers being used at that time. While the design of the airframe of the Wright aircraft remains nearly the same for years, the brothers continually improved and upgraded their engine design. Between 1903 and 1913 the engine power increased from 12 horsepower to nearly 75 horsepower.