Wings Assignment #2

1. Did flight have any influence outside of aviation? If so, how?

Yes, outside of aviation, flight had an influence on many different areas; “like everyone else, the artists and intellectuals got caught up in the excitement of flight” (Crouch, 121). Cubist painters became involved and went to Issy-les-Moulineaux and began to build mode airplanes, and Gabriele D’Annunzio, an Italian poet and novelist, as well as the pet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, began to write about flight in their literature. Others, such as Vasily Vasilyevich Kamensky, became interested in flight and together with others he began to lecture on airplanes. Additionally, popular culture was heavily affected by flight with “clocks, fans, pencil boxes, cigarette cases, pitchers, places and ginger jars were a few of the items emblazoned with the images of airplanes in flight” (Crouch, 123). Pulp magazine yarns also began to have stories about flight, contrary to people having grown up reading dime-novel tales. Children began to play with aviation dolls and model airplanes as well as other games and puzzles, and another popular item were aeronautical postcards. Language was also affected by aviation with many of the words being of French origin, such as aviation, fuselage, and helicopter. Flight also affected the field of science with people in other fields such as physics and engineering, becoming interested in helping further research how to develop flight.  

5. In your opinion, did the Wright Brothers’ patent suits affect the progress of aviation?

The patent suits began on August 18-19, 1911 when the Wright Brothers filed a complaint against Glenn Curtiss prohibiting him from making, selling, or exhibiting airplanes that infringed on the Wright Brother’s patents as well as filing a suit against the Aeronautic Society of New York prohibiting them from exhibiting a Curtis airplane. Additionally the Wright Brothers sought several other injunctions. These various patent suits were all consuming for two years and many in the government and aeronautic industry agreed that these suits retarded the growth of American Aeronautics and had “”caused the United States to fall from first place to last of all the great nations in the air””(Crouch, 147). However, I do not think that these patent suits severely hindered the progress of aviation. I do not believe that the Wright Brother’s did it for the profit, although Orville did profit from the suits, but rather I think that they did it to protect their rights and their ideas that they had worked so hard to achieve. Although these patent suits probably did slow down some of the progress in aviation in America, I do not believe that it had any significant hindrance on the progress of aviation in American.

7. What was the cult of the heroic airman?

According to the author, the cult of the heroic airman “began as a natural extension of the adulation lavished on the aeronautical heroes of the prewar era” (156). The French culture had given great admiration to their pilots, both in racing and in exhibition, as well as to the men who risked their lives to achieve a French victory. The cult of the heroic airman were French airman that had somehow made some contribution to the French during the war and had managed to inspire the country by defending the French nation. One of the first as Ronald Garros. According to a story written about him in a newspaper, he had shown his dedication to his country when he sacrificed himself for France by throwing himself and his aircraft straight at a German aircraft which resulted in both parties deaths. Although this story was deemed to be false, “the French needed heroes” (Crouch, 156). These heroic airman were used to inspire the country as “the aviator…was like a medieval knight, boldly carrying out the national standard into combat with a champion from the other side. Such a man would live or die on the basis of his own skill and courage” (Crouch, 156).

Crouch, Tom D. Wings: A History of Aviation from Kites to the Space Age. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, 2003. Print.

Wings Assignment #2

3. Who took the lead in establishing aviation as a business and what effect did it have on the rest of the world?

The French were the ones who took the lead in establishing aviation as a business, by “transforming their experimental workshops into factories.” (126) Studies indicate that the French produced 1,023 airplanes between the years 1909 and 1913, though actual production figures were probably even higher.  With France dominating the aviation field, the rest of Europe followed suit and invested in flight technology due to its military potential.  “The military potential of the airplane remained unclear, but it would not do to allow a potential enemy to forge too far ahead.” (134)  Because of France, the rest of the world had no choice but to keep up, and be number one in aviation.

5. In your opinion, did the Wright Brothers’ patent suits affect the progress of aviation?

Yes, the Wright Brothers’ patent suits did affect the progress of aviation, but in a negative way.  As engineer Charles B. Hayward stated, “… The move on the part of the Wright brothers to establish the standing of their patents by having them adjudicated and, as this is an extremely lengthy process, to restrain infringers in the meantime, has lead to a perfect flood of criticism- even abuse and vilification- all of which has been misguided to say the least.” (145) First, as Hayward pointed out, this took a long amount of time to get their patents in place, and added even more time with all the lawsuits that ensued.  Legal battles put a damper in progress, as the innovators were focused on winning lawsuits instead of making further advances in aviation at the time.  It was interesting that the family thought that all these patent battles weakened Wilbur and increased his susceptibility to the typhoid.  Perhaps Wilbur and Orville could have made even more advances with the possibility that Wilbur may not have gotten sick if he hadn’t been so worn out.

6. How did the military use the airplane prior to and during WWI?

The military used the airplane prior to and during WWI as multiple things: “reconnaissance, artillery direction, ground attack, and bombing” (153).  It was a useful tool for the armies and the troops on the ground; however it was not preconceived that a single pilot could be flying an airplane with a fixed machine gun that could take down enemy aircraft.  Before 1915 this method of attack didn’t exist, there was no easy way to take down another plane. Pilots would arm themselves with pistols, rifles, grenades, and grappling ropes to hinder the enemy planes. Not until Roland Garros attached a machine gun to his Moraine-Saulnier L monoplane was this way of warfare in the air possible.

Coming to America

I was born and raised in India, and in 11th grade my parents decided we should visit my family in Dayton, OH. We booked a flight from India to NYC where our aunt would meet up with us.We had taken some small international trips to neighboring countries before, but this was my first long international flight. I was completely in awe of all the technology and comfort modern day airplanes provided. 14 hours went quickly watching movies, sleeping and enjoying the sounds of Pink Floyd in the airplane entertainment system. We stayed in NYC for a couple days before heading to Dayton.
I did not know how small the aircraft from NYC to Dayton would be, and once we got to the airport, I was completely flabbergasted by what stood before me: I wondered for a minute if there was a mix-up and we were boarding someone's private airplane. I wondered how all the passengers at the terminal heading to Dayton were going to fit into this tiny aircraft. Those international flights sure seemed like luxury. I immediately pulled out my camera and took a picture of what stood before me (not my smartest moment). Needless to say, a few minutes later I was boarded off the plane and a TSA agent ensured I did not have any airplane pictures with me. The fear of being semi-interrogated by a law authority in a foreign country spoiled by first trip to Dayton, but I think if it wasn't for the fear, I would have probably needed medical treatment for claustrophobia. All's well that ends well.

A Cutting Tradition

My brother is currently in the process of getting his private pilot's license. Before Christmas he took his first solo flight where he flew without his instructor for the first time. When he was scheduling his solo flight his instructor told him to wear an old shirt he didn't mind getting cut up. Once my brother was back on the ground after his solo flight his instructor congratulated him and then cut off the tail of his shirt! This seems like an odd tradition but it's story is interesting. In the early days of flight during and after World War One, when young pilots were learning to fly their instructor would sit in the seat behind them in the cockpit. The instructor would then guide the student pilot by pulling on his shirttail in the same manner the pilot would move the yoke of the aircraft because the aircraft was too loud to hear. Once the instructor thought the student was competent enough to fly on his own the instructor would cut off his shirttail so he could no longer pull on them when flying. This tradition is still carried out today by flight instructors.

Charlie Brown Meets the Wright Brothers

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xx4hlo_the-wright-brothers-at-kitty-hawk_lifestyle
The link above takes you to an awesome video called, "This is America, Charlie Brown: The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk." It's a Charlie Brown adaptation of the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk. I'm studying to be a teacher, so this would make a great lesson on the Wright Brothers while also being kid friendly! Charlie Brown and Linus go to Kitty Hawk to witness the first flight and they learn all sorts of things about the brothers, such as their cycle shop, their first attempts at flight, and how they achieved the first heavier-than-air flight. Snoopy and Woodstock are in it also, so how could you not watch it? :)

Airline Snacks: American vs. Latin American

One thing that I think is interesting about flying is the food. When I took my first flight it was on a trip to Florida and our in flight snack was either peanuts OR pretzels. I was starving and was surprised that I couldn't get both. However, when I studied abroad I learned that international airlines have significantly better food that airlines in America. For example, while flying from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Iguazu Falls, our in flight snack consisted of the following: ham and cheese crackers, a lemon cookie, and an alfajore (which is an amazing dessert in Latin American, specifically in Argentina and Chile that is basically two delicious cookies with dulce de leche (the better version of caramel) in between). I was surprised in the difference in both quality and quantity in the snacks. Additionally, while flying from Argentina to Chile the in flight snacks were also better. Last summer I flew to Nicaragua and was able to actually get both peanuts AND pretzels on the American flight (to which I was very surprised and pleased when the flight attendant said I could have both) but again the in flight snacks on the Latin American Airlines were significantly better. I also found the the in flight meals are better on Latin American Airlines than those in America, so my conclusion overall is that airlines in American need to step up their in flight food quality.

The Meter Man by Jess Hess

When I was little, I remember hearing a statement by various family members that my Great Grandpa Badders knew one of the Wright Brothers. Being my young and oblivious self, that didn't carry much weight with me and I never bothered to find out more. It wasn't until just recently that I followed up with my grandpa about it and discovered the relationship between my great grandpa and Mr. Orville Wright. I initially thought my great grandpa was the paper man for Orville, but that proved to be false after I talked to my grandpa (see what I mean when I said the story didn't carry much weight with me at first?). Here's what I found out: My great grandpa lived in Dayton and worked for DP&L as a meter man. This meant that he would go around to different houses, go in their basement, look on their meter, and see how much electricity that household had used. He had the pleasure of being the meter man for Orville Wright when he had lived in Dayton after Wilbur had passed away. It was through this that my great grandpa and Orville struck up a friendship.  According to my grandpa, Orville would invite my great grandpa to sit at his kitchen table so that he could talk about his ideas with my great grandpa. Orville would share ideas and inventions with him, accompanied by drawings and models. Unfortunately, my grandpa could not recall any of the inventions Orville shared with my grandpa's dad. Regardless, it's still a unique story and a cool connection my family has to the Wright Brothers!

Tiffany Geier- Wings #1

2. Why did it take man so long to realize the dream of flight?

It took man so long to realize the dream of flight because the technology that these kinds of project required were not quite available yet. The advanced knowledge of physics and engineering took longer to come about. Complex means of gathering and collecting data were not readily available for so long either. Not only did the technology need to catch up but so dd the mindsets of most people. The idea of using the wing was far from coming about as well as the idea of being able to build a heaver than air flying machine. These things seemed nearly impossible to most people. Indeed the materials may have been there all along for earlier peoples but the more advanced technology research and basic understand of the air was not quite around, causing the dream of flight to takere longer to come into perspective.

3. When dd the era of modern aviation begin and why?

The era of modern aviation without a doubt began with the work of Sir George Cayley at the start of the nineteenth century. Sir Cayley's glider was the earliest ancestor to the modern day airplane. He was the first to develop the concept of fixed wings on his craft. His gliders were also the first crafts capable of human flight.  The vast amount of study and research he did on air and air pressure was extremely significant as well. He came up with a method to measure the performance of the aircraft too.

5. Why did Wilber and Orville Wright achieve success before their contemporaries?

Wilber and Orville were the first to gain such a success for a number of different reasons starting from their childhood. They were very curious boys growing up and always interested in creating and figuring out how things worked. Rebuilding the helicopter toy that their father bought for them over and over along with watching birds and how they are able to soar with their wings was also quite helpful growing up. The brothers had the drive to figure it out with good materials to work with. Since they had their own bicycle shop they were able acquire parts from the shop to help them n the construction of their aircraft. Just the basic understanding of the bicycle and building them greatly helped the Wrights in their studies and calculations as well. They developed the wind tunnel to help in studying the air and various air speeds and pressures. Most importantly they ran into several failures but they never gave up. They learned from those failures and the failures of other craftsmen before them and continued to study and and research different options and experiment until they finally created the best working model.

Wings Assignment #1

2. Why did it take so long for man to realize the dream of flight?
It took so long for man to realize the dream of flight due to the low availability of materials and the inspiration necessary to create such a breakthrough, according to Crouch on page 20 of Wings.  Crouch quotes aviation author Richard Bach saying that "They could have done it, the Carthaginians. Or the Etruscans, or the Egyptians. Four thousand years ago, five thousand years ago, they could have flown." (19) It was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that the dream of flight was conceivable, and the materials were available for experimenting.  The Industrial Revolution was an era of experimentation and invention that brought with it the determination to lift man into the air, a determination that the ancients lacked.


5. Why did Wilbur and Orville Wright achieve success before their contemporaries?
Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved success before their contemporaries for two main reasons; their background, and their determination.  Crouch states that "Manufacturing bicycles had taught the Wrights a lot about precision crafting in wood and metal and the design and construction of lightweight structures." (60) They also had a background in printing, in which they designed their own presses out of spare and random junk parts.  Both of these previous jobs gave them hands on experience and knowledge that could be added to everything man knew about aviation up to that point. This, coupled with their apparent God-given talent to construct things.
Second, was their determination. Realizing that in order to be successful they had to devote all their time to their task, they were willing enough to take the risk.
As a sort of side note, I personally believe that their family background contributed to their success. Crouch says that the "three youngest Wright children were always careful to recognize their debt to a father who worked hard to spark his children's curiosity and to a patient and understanding mother..." (56) Support from family members will help boost morale. Also, working with your sibling could also have been a factor. Living in the same household for a good portion of your life allows you to understand each other on a level that no friend, apprentice, or hired employee could understand, and would make it easier to work with each other more efficiently and creatively.


7. When and what was La Grande Semaine d’Aviation de Champagne and what significance does it have in aviation history?
La Grande Semaine d' Aviation de Champagne was a full week of flying activities located in the city of Reims, and it lasted from August 22 to August 29, 1909.  This event was significant because it introduced the "airmen and their machines to a wondering public." (114) It resulted in thousands of spectators swarming to the small cathedral town.  It was also significant because many records were set and broken that week. Including the most exciting event, speed runs that would award the James Gordon Bennett Trophy to the winner.  As the Wright Brother's refused to participate in the competitions, the award went to Glenn Curtiss with an average speed of 46.5 m.p.h.

AJ Ricker WINGS #1

1. What impact did flight have on life in the twentieth century?

            According to Tom Crouch, in his book Wings, the impact of flight on life in the 20^th century is almost incalculable simply because it opened the door to a love of science and technology that has forever changed the world.  Says Crouch, an early and very “obvious” change was that flight introduced the “weapon of the century” (Crouch 11).  After all, Crouch reasons, the major event of the 20^th century (dropping of the A-Bomb on Japan) could not have occurred if not for flight.  Other significant changes include globalization – with passenger flight there is more cross-cultural interaction and even a “homogenization” or blending of cultures.  Crouch also points out that many areas of our lives have been majorly impacted by the advent of flight – including business interests (such as the retail market geared just for travelers), religious interests (travel for pilgrimages), and even sports events (such as the Olympics).  In fact, flight is so significant to 20^th century history that, notes Crouch, we tend to mark significant flight history with our own timelines (12).  In the later part of the 20^th century, flight’s influence has been geared more toward advances in technology – and a more firm belief among our world’s citizens that man will continue to advance into farther reaches of space exploration. 

2. Why did it take so long for man to realize the dream of flight?

            In his text Wings, author Tom Crouch delves into the history of humankind’s interest in flying and gives several reasons why it took us until the 20^th century to accomplish flight.  Historians can show that man was clearly interested in the notion and symbolism of flight since before written records began with imagery of man “flying” to the heavens. “It began with our deep and distant ancestral envy of birds and involved nothing more or less than the realization of the oldest and most potent of human symbols,” says Crouch (15).  He adds, “…we placed our gods in the sky and made flight, the one gift we had been denied, an attribute of divinity” (Crouch 15).  Even with this drive to escape from the ground, as well as even having many of the materials that would eventually be used in flight, mankind was unable to achieve this feat simply because we didn’t have the science.  It wasn’t until the 17^th and 18^th centuries that major mathematicians and philosophers (early scientists) made the important discoveries about physics that would eventually lead to successful flight.  In addition, this wasn’t just a “sudden” discovery by one or two brilliant people.  In fact, the process included a variety of science breakthroughs, spanning hundreds of years, involving air, heat, lift, material design, and wind manipulation.  Even the toy pinwheel played a pivotal role in theory as well as plain old inspiration.  Like all scientific discoveries, methods took time to refine; and, the results had to be tested and duplicated in order for the next step to come. 

6. How did the United States government and other countries respond to the Wrights’ efforts to sell their invention?

            After losing a large sum of money while financing the failed Langley Aerodrome, the U.S. government was not all that eager to rush into a deal with the Wright brothers when they decided to market their flying machine, notes Tom Crouch in his book Wings.  After some failed flights during testing at the less windy Ohio site of Huffman Prairie, many people thought that they were more or less a flash in the pan.  Eventually, through equipment adjustments and (mostly) more experience, the brothers were able to maintain longer flight times consistently; and interest in their discovery increased (Crouch 81).  Soon, the Wright brothers realized that this interest could result in their hard work being stolen so they successfully patented it.  The problem was that they refused to demonstrate their machine unless the buyer signed a contract and this pretty much goes against common business practices.  In addition, since the U.S. government agency in charge of procuring such a machine had already been publicly embarrassed by the Langley fiasco, the U.S. Army’s procuring agency was simply not willing to take a chance on “the claims of two bicycle makers from Dayton, Ohio” without solid proof of success (Crouch 82).  They reached out to other nations with similar negative results.  Basically, the brothers “were attempting to do business with the governments of the world as if they were merchants in West Dayton” (Crouch 83).  Even so, Britain and France were both interested but they also felt certain that they could independently develop their own flying abilities by working off of Wrights’ concepts.  Eventually, the brothers hired an arms firm to help them market their discovery.  Then, the government, in typical bureaucratic form, created a “performance specification for an airplane and accepted a bid from the Wright brothers” (Crouch 83).  Once the brothers learned to successfully negotiate government red tape, they had better success here and abroad.

Rachael Kneice - Wings #1

3. When did the era of modern aviation begin and why?

                Modern aviation began with Sir George Cayley, in the early-to-mid-1800s. He determined that heavier-than-air flight was something that could be achieved once enough scientific research was completed. He worked on learning basic principles of aerodynamics and was essentially the first aeronautical engineer. The flyers that he built were the first fixed-wing gliders, giving humans a taste of flight (Crouch, 35). He had been fascinated with balloons and flying toys as a child, which is what sparked his inspiration. In turn, his efforts sparked both European and Americans to continue what he had started. The Wright brothers were well familiar with his work and greatly praised his academic publishings on the principles of aeronautics. His research helped others to take what he had learned and apply new concepts to the matter of flight.

4. What three methods of solving the challenge of flight emerged by the late nineteenth century and how effective were they?

                The first approach was when experimenters went straight from research to the construction of a fully-function aircraft. One example of this is Clément Ader from France, who designed a steam-powered tailless monoplane. His creation basically rose in the air for 160 feet, but did not have a sustained or a controlled flight (Crouch, 41-42). Another approach was focused on designing and testing model aircraft. Alphonse Pénaud invented a “planophore” which was powered by twisted rubber bands. The research from some of his designs inspired Wilbur and Orville Wright. The third approach was to design and test specifically piloted gliders. Between the years 1849-1890, at least five people glided for short distances (Crouch, 44). Soon after their flights, however, they all went back to their research and did not attempt the dangers of flying.

7. When and what was La Grande Semaine d’Aviation de Champagne and what significance does it have in aviation history?

                This was a week of flying activity, just north of the city of Reims, France. It was held in August of 1909. There were competitions to be held and passenger rides to be given. Many different airplanes made their appearance, and the pros and cons of each were examined. This event was a demonstration of the technology that had developed. One big significance that is has in aviation history is that it was the first international public flying event. The book states that this event was the transition between inventing the airplane and the birth of the aviation industry (Crouch, 118).

Jim Wings Assignment 1

1. What impact did flight have on life in the twentieth century?

Flight didn’t just impact the twentieth century; it defined it. In the introduction of Wings: A History of Aviation From Kites to the Space Age, author Tom D. Crouch sites a poll conducted by USA Today and DC’s Newseum on the top stories of the 1900s. Surprisingly, both the readers and journalists polled listed the same top four: The bombing of Hiroshima, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the moon landing, and the invention of the airplane. The common factor? Flight.

The invention of heavier-than-air flight revolutionized multiple industries. From the beginning it was used as a military weapon, capable of scouting enemy lines and aerial attacks with machine guns and bombs. This later led to more advanced combat machines such as stealth bombers and UAVs. Planes also changed the travel landscape. More people than ever before can travel across land and seas rapidly and at relatively low expense. Shipping also saw a great boon from flight, with a lot of cargo being transported by airplanes instead of boats. Finally, the capabilities of space travel allow us to discover new frontiers beyond this world, which will lead to a new age of exploration.

5. Why did Wilbur and Orville Wright achieve success before their contemporaries?

The Wright Brothers, first and foremost, were of a different mindset than many of their contemporaries. They were not rich, old aristocrats and businessmen taking up flying as a hobby. They were young, middle class country boys with little formal education who embodied the American spirit. They were entrepreneurs and innovators, and they approached the problem of flight from a different angle. Being bike shop owners, they knew a flying machine would require precision controls, namely the ability to balance and turn, and they set out to design one that could be easily operated. Most aspiring aviators at the time only wanted to make a machine that flew in a straight line, which was ultimately of very limited value.

Furthermore, Wilbur and Orville were great problem solvers. Their knack for tinkering led them to build hundreds of models for testing purposes. They were meticulous and exacting in perfecting their design, refusing to be satisfied with what they had previously accomplished, as many of their rivals did. They also brilliantly took over all phases of the operation: designing, building, number crunching, piloting, teaching, and after their product was complete, managing the business aspects. This allowed them to go above and beyond their competition every step of the way. They had a vision as well as the smarts to create and sustain it.

7. When and what was La Grande Semaine d’Aviation de Champagne and what significance does it have in aviation history?

La Grande Semaine d’Aviation was a full week’s worth of flying events near Reims, France. Tens of thousands of spectators flocked to the plains to see their aviation heroes, such as Louis Bleriot, the first man to cross the English Channel by air, and upcoming pilots compete for a series of prizes. The Wright brothers refused to compete for business purposes, but four of their flyers were flown in competition. Sadly, one crashed, killing Eugene Lefebvre, the first pilot to die in an airplane accident. Other rising plane manufacturers were also represented, including Voisin and the four biggest engine companies: Antoinette, Anzani, Wright and REP.

As Wings states, “A great many records were set and broken that week,” as prize after prize was awarded. Many say the biggest spectacle of all was Glenn Curtiss, the official representative of the Aero Club of America, winning the James Gordon Bennett Trophy for the fastest flight. He flew at a record 46.5 mph. The real importance of the event, however, was that it served as a segue between the infancy stages of human flight and the industry stage. With the world looking on, flying had become a business.

Josie Wings Assignment #1

2. Why did it take so long for man to realize the dream of flight?

I believe one of the main reasons it took so long for man to realize the dream of flight is the development of complex engineering and physics principles. It took a great amount of time to acquire the knowledge of aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, which proved to be quite crucial. Furthermore, in order to successfully achieve flight, the innovators needed advanced tools to collect the key pieces of data needed to glide through the air. Although it seemed as though they had the supplies needed to build an apparatus, many would argue there is a very slim chance that they could have tweaked it just right without any measurements. However, this likely applies only to heavier than air flight. The concept that hot air rises was understood many years before people were able to get into the air. In this situation, it is likely that there was a lack of the creativity that was needed to design something that would fly. Given this assumption, it is difficult to point to the true reason as to why it took so long for man to realize the dream of flight. Perhaps it was truly something that only the Wright brothers could accomplish.

4. What three methods of solving the challenge of flight emerged by the late nineteenth century and how effective were they?

The first method of solving the challenge of flight was for experimenters to completely design an aircraft based on research then to build it full scale. This method was the least influential on the achievement of flight. The most notable achievements were those of powered hops through the air. It was by this method that experimenters were first able to successfully make a powered aircraft carrying a human take off. The second method involved the use of models to design aircrafts. This method was significantly more successful than the first, and was the safest option. There was much research in helicopters, ornithopers, and rotary-wing models. The final, and most dangerous, method was to design and pilot gliders. This method resulted in many injuries, deaths, and frightened experimenters. After crashing, some experimenters opted to use ballast to represent a passenger, but few continued to fly after a couple attempts. Yet, this method did in fact yielded the greatest and most influential results. The longest flight, which was 138 feet, was achieved via this method. Wilber Wright preferred this method, stating, “If you were looking for perfect safety, you will do well to sit on the fence and watch the birds. But if you really wish to learn, you must mount a machine and become acquainted with its tricks by actual practice.”

5. Why did Wilbur and Orville Wright achieve success before their contemporaries?

The Wright brothers achieved greater success due their keen eye for innovation. Their unlikely background in bicycles made it possible for them to create a link to the airplane that wasn’t so obvious to the average person. It was however a thought of both the Wright brothers and news paper journalist. When the brothers began, they set out with the goal to create an airplane that could be as easy to use and control as a bicycle. They were very experienced with materials, and were therefore able to create Wilber made the first step by realizing how to shape the wing in order to create the greatest lift. The wings were created with fabric and flexible rods that allowed the wings to flex in order to keep off the ground during flight. They also designed their craft so that the pilot could control the wings so as to keep the craft balanced. The wings were in fact a great contributor of their success. They were also able to design an engine that weighed only 200 lbs. Despite their lack of a formal education, the incredibly genius innovation in the design of the wings, engine and balance of the plane made it possible for them to generate the first flight.