Which pair of individuals achieved the first success in controlled, powered, and sustained flight?

The Wright brothers are credited with achieving the first success in controlled, powered, and sustained flight. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright conducted their historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where they managed to keep an aircraft in the air under its own power for a significant duration. Their invention, the Wright Flyer, was not only powered but also allowed for controlled maneuvers, marking a pivotal moment in aviation history.

While the Montgolfier brothers were significant for launching the first hot air balloons, their flights were not powered or sustained in the sense required by the question. Thaddeus S. C. Lowe was an important figure in the development of airships and aeronautics, but he did not achieve powered flight. Daedalus, a character from Greek mythology, is often remembered for his flight with wings made of feathers and wax, which is a myth rather than a historical event.

The Wright brothers' combination of control, power, and sustained flight is a foundational achievement that paved the way for modern aviation, making them the correct answer in this multiple-choice question.