Wright Brothers

The Wright Brothers, Orville (b. 1871) and Wilbur (1867-1912), are generally credited with making the first controlled, powered, heavier-than-air flight. In the years afterward, they developed their flying machine into the world's first practical fixed-wing aircraft, along with many other aviation milestones.

Both the U.S. and the C.S. placed great emphasis on maintaining air superiority in the Second Great War.