What type of engine powered the Wright Brothers' first successful flight?

The first successful flight of the Wright Brothers was powered by a gasoline engine, which was critical to achieving sustained and controlled flight. This engine was a lightweight four-cylinder design specifically built for their aircraft, named the Wright Flyer. The development of a gasoline engine allowed for the necessary power-to-weight ratio essential for flight, as this engine provided sufficient horsepower to lift the aircraft off the ground while being light enough to not undermine the craft's ability to achieve flight.

The Wright Brothers understood that traditional steam or electric engines were either too heavy or insufficiently powerful for their needs. Steam engines, for instance, were generally bulky and not well-suited for the lightweight requirements of early aviation. Similarly, electric engines at that time lacked the necessary power output and battery technology to compete with the efficiency of gasoline engines. Jet engines, which operate on a completely different principle, were not developed until decades later, making them irrelevant to the Wright Brothers' achievements in the early 20th century. Therefore, the gasoline engine was the most suitable choice for their pioneering flights.