The Wright brothers were interested in flight from a young age after their father gave them a toy helicopter. They began experimenting with gliders to understand wing design and aerodynamics. Wilbur and Orville built a wind tunnel to study how air flows over wings. In 1903, they successfully tested their motor-powered airplane, called the Flyer, achieving the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight. Their achievement at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903 marked a major breakthrough in aviation history.