Who invented the first successful airplane?

The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, are credited with inventing the first successful airplane, which made controlled, powered, and sustained flight possible. On December 17, 1903, they achieved this milestone at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, with their aircraft known as the Wright Flyer. Their extensive research, experimentation with wing designs, and development of a reliable control system allowed them to create an aircraft that could not only take off and fly but also be steered effectively.

The Wright Brothers' contribution to aviation was significant as it laid the foundation for all subsequent aircraft design and technology. Their meticulous documentation of their flight experiments and innovations in aerodynamics set a standard in aviation history that influences aircraft development to this day. This pioneering work ultimately opened the door to the era of modern aviation.