Orville Wright, born on August 19th, 1871 and Wilbur Wright, born on April 16th, 1867, are credited with inventing and creating the first successful airplane. The Wright Brothers made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17th, 1903. Wilbur died at the young age of 45 on May 30th, 1912, while Orville passed on January 30th, 1948 at the age of 76.