Early Wright aircraft, circa 1908-11. The model seen here is one of the early powered aircraft built by US aviation pioneers the Wright brothers (Orville Wright, 1871-1948; Wilbur Wright, 1867-1912). The aircraft they were flying at this time were the Wright Flyer III and the Wright Model A, both made from wood and fabric, with wingspans of 11-12 metres. The engine is seen to the left of the pilot, who is in an upright seated position (prior to 1908, the pilot was in a prone position, lying down). The aircraft's elevators are at the front, rather than the rear as in later models. The Wright Flyer III flew in 1905 and 1908, with the Wright Model A flown from 1908 onwards.