Anna Lingle
The Wright Brothers
The Wright Brothers are known throughout the world. Many people often forget the background on air crafts and who actually made them. “Orville Wright piloted the first powered airplane flight that flew 120 feet lasting 12 seconds over sand dunes at Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk in Dare County, North Carolina on December 17, 1903. His brother Wilbur flew their "Flying Machine" on the same day covering 852 feet over 59 seconds.” These brothers where very brilliant kids who always wanted to fly. They were interested as children in playing with helicopters and ever since playing with those small toys they wanted to fly them. People take this for granted, but their accomplishments are what millions of people
…show more content…
After collecting what they needed to know from the Smithsonian they finally began their study. “During the 1800s, however, a community of technically trained people interested in flight had evolved. They had amassed a body of aeronautical knowledge that represented the first real steps toward achieving human flight.” While developing the air craft they started out with just small mechanical projects. They loved keeping up with scientific research. Both the brothers followed the German aviator, Otto Lilienthal. Both of the boys became interested in airplanes and flying after learning about the studies of the late 19-century glider pilot, Lilienthal. They first started out studying the glider experiment. And that theory of flying. When he died the brother decided to start their own experiments with flight. They packed up and headed to Kitty Hawk North Carolina. The brothers set to work trying to figure out how to make up the wings for the aircraft to fly. They observed multiple different animals including birds and the angle on how they used them to fly. The watched the way they balanced, the way they picked up speed, and how to control and steer themselves. The air craft were all flown as kites to obtain aerodynamic performance. The Wright brothers were kite fanatics and used kite flying skills in the same way that modern engineers use wind tunnels and flight testing concerning flight control. They corresponded with Octave Chanute, concerning some of the ideas. In Wilbur's words, "It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and