GAMES RIGHT! Who built the first successful airplane? Johannes Gutenberg John Baird and James Watt Wilbur and Orville Wright Next Question Wilbur and Orville Wright built the first successful airplane. This “lighter-than-air” invention took flight on December 17, 1903. The Wright brothers also focused on the ability for the pilot to control the steering of the aircraft. © 2024 High Touch Entertainment, LLC All Rights Reserved Tweet