Wright Flyer II and the Wright brothers. Orville Wright (left, 1871-1948) and Wilbur Wright (right, 1867-1912) with the Wright Flyer II, at Huffman Prairie, Dayton, Ohio, USA, in May 1904. The Wright brothers built and flew the first powered aircraft (the Wright Flyer) on 17 December 1903, adding an engine and propellers to one of their glider designs. Their second design, built from white pine, had a slightly more powerful engine. Like the first machine, it was a single-pilot aircraft. They flew this aircraft 105 times that year, with some flights lasting up to five minutes. Over the winter, the aircraft was dismantled, with salvaged parts used for the Wright Flyer III.