Allen Vawdrey Aviation Lone Peak Wright Brothers Paper The Wright Brothers discovered the best way

to do controlled flying for their time. Because of them and many others that worked on flight we are able to transport goods faster, get people places more efficient, and many more things. Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871. Wilbert Wright was born on April 16, 1867. They were born to Milton Wright, a bishop of the United Brethren in Christ and Susan Wright. While growing up, the two brothers were inseparable. They could always be found doing something together. In a sense, they made each other complete because what one brother couldnt do, the other one could. Their personalities were complementary. When they got older, they started a little business of printing. They would print religious documents for their fathers journal called the

Religious Telescope to commercial fliers. Then in 1892 they opened up a bike shop
called Wright Cycle Shop in Dayton, Ohio. The Wright Brothers enjoyed the bike shop because it involved using machinery. This would help them later when they would build their glider. The work of Otto Lilienthal attracted the attention of the Wright Brothers. As early as 1891, the Wright Brothers watched Lilienthal in his work. It wasnt until Lilienthal failed for his last time in 1896 that the Wright Brothers actually became

interested in gliding experiments. They began to educate themselves in the theory of flight. When the Wright Brothers started to work on the theory of flight, they came up with some ideas of their own and used others to help them with their gliders. The help of the internal combustion engine helped power their glider. The two brothers decided to work on controlling the glider first then work for power. Others had worked on power then control and failed every time. They built up their ideas for several years. They built their own glider and engine to test. Their first gliders were double winged. They used these for tests. They did their testing at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They first went down there in September of 1900 to begin their testing. While spending time in Kitty Hawk, they documented their failures and successes. After these tests, they discovered their information was very inaccurate. They returned to their bike shop in 1901 to rethink their theory. When they got back, they built the first wind tunnel in the United States to get more data. In the wind tunnel they tested over two hundred different wing models to determine what design was best. They tested the drag and lift if the designs. After these tests, they had mastered the existing body of aeronautics and had added to it. In 1902 they built their third glider, incorporated their new ideas and returned to Kitty Hawk. While in Kitty Hawk they had very successful flights. They had been able to control their glider. After these successful flights, they wanted to build a powered glider. The Wright Brothers discovered that no manufacturer would build an engine to fly. They had to build their own engine. They produced one engine that had four

cylinders and developed 12 horsepower.

When they attached it to the glider, it

weighted only 750 pounds. They named their plane The Flyer. They took their new plane back to Kitty Hawk in the fall of 1903. On December 17, 1903, they preformed the first manned, powered flight in a heavier-than-air craft. The first flight was made by Orville and lasted only 12 seconds. The plane flew about 120 feet. Their record for that day was on their fourth flight in which the plane stayed in the air for 59 seconds and traveled 852 feet. After flying around a gust of wind crashed the plane and damaged it. They were so successful in this attempt that in 1905 they abandoned all their other activities and worked on their aircraft. After their successful flights they turned to the government to help them further their research. Wilbert went to France to demonstrate their aircraft. While he was in France, Orville showed the government a plane. It was accepted and a week later it crashed and killed his passenger, Signal Corps Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge. Despite this crash, they continued to fly and develop their aircraft. The Wright Brothers created the American Wright Company. Wilbert was appointed to lead the business. On May 30, 1912, Wilbert Wright died. Orville was sad and depressed but took control of the company. He didnt enjoy the life of commercial business so he sold it in 1915. He continued to experiment with aircraft in Dayton. He experimented on mechanical problems that were of interest to him but none proved to be of any importance. He also served on the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. He was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1915. He continued to serve on this Committee until his death on January 30, 1948.

Works Cited List http://www.notablebiographies.com/We-Z/Wright-Brothers.html http://www.wright-house.com/wright-brothers/Wrights.html http://wright.nasa.gov/orville.htm