The Wright Flight

Men have long been fascinated by the idea of taking flight. Many men have contemplated strapping on wings and soaring in the sky. Even Leonardo da Vinci sketched flying machines. However, it took two bicycle shop owners from Ohio to make flying a reality.

Wilbur and Orville Wright were born not long after the Civil War. They had two older brothers and a younger sister. Their father was a preacher, and both parents had taught school. The parents encouraged their children's intellectual pursuits.

Aviation held the two middle Wright brothers' interests. They were mechanically minded, and the bicycle shop funded their ambition

for creating a machine that would fly. They believed that the effect of air on the machine was variable and tricky but could be controlled once learned. After building a model glider, they were ready to move onto a full-size machine that would carry a man. They needed a flat, open space with breezes, and sandy terrain would provide the advantage of a softer landing.  They considered beaches in California, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. After checking Weather Bureau wind records, however,

they settled on Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

After several problems and more than one failure, the day man flew finally came on December 17, 1903. On a cold day with winds blowing around 25 m.p.h. and ice

puddles dotting the camp, Orville rode the plane about 10 feet in the air and traveled for 125 feet before darting to the ground. By our standards it was a short, low flight, but it was a beginning. Man had finally learned how to fly.

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