The inventors of the first airplane were not scientists. In fact, they did not even finish high school! The inventors of the first airplane were just ordinary brothers with a big dream—a dream of flying. Wilbur and Orville Wright grew up in Indiana in a large family. Neither of the brothers finished high school. Instead of sitting in class and reading, they wanted to work and make things, like machines.When the brothers were 18 and 22 years old, they started up their own printing press and bicycle shop.