Wright Brothers Research Paper

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” Leonardo da Vinci. Wilbur and Orville Wright are known throughout the world as the first men to fly an airplane. This, however, is a myth. “The first fixed-wing aircraft -- a kite mounted on a stick -- was conceived and flown almost a century before Orville and Wilbur made their first flights” (Engler). The Wright Brothers, however, were the first to control an airplane in the air. Though not the first to fly, these flight-loving brothers made tremendous impacts on aviation. Three controls, roll, pitch, and yaw, are what allows an airplane to fly in all three dimensions. This simple,
Wilbur Wright was born the middle child of five. His father, Milton, was a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. His mother was Susan Catherine Koerner. Younger brother and playmate, Orville Wright was four years younger than Wilbur. Wilber and Orville grew up sharing a love for aeronautics and flying. Always on the road, their father would never fail to bring back toys and gadgets for the young Wright brothers. On one occasion, Milton brought back a small, model helicopter for the boys. They soon were remaking models of their own. Wilber Wright had always been a bright and hardworking child. He excelled in school and planned to attend Yale University. One day, however, an accident occurred which drastically changed Wilber’s life. In an ice hockey game, Wilber was badly injured when another player’s stick hit him in the face. His face and teeth eventually healed, but he continued to have heart and digestive problems. After this incident, Wilbur faded into depression. He decided against his plans for college and retreated back to his home. Wilbur spent the next three years desperately nursing his dying mother back to health. She died of tuberculosis in 1889. Around this same time, Orville was losing interest in school. He wished to pursue the printing business. So that year, 1889, he dropped out of high school and opened a print shop. One year later, Wilbur joined
One person they closely followed was German aviator Otto Lilienthal. After Lilienthal died in a glider crash, the brothers began work on their experiments. Both Wilbur and Orville were determined to develop a successful design. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, known for its strong winds, became their test center. The two brothers wondered how a pilot must balance an aircraft in the air, just as a bicyclist balances on the road (Engler). They began to create gliders to test their theories. The first two gliders failed to perform as the Wrights had hoped. They began viewing how birds angled their wings for balance and control. The Wrights attempted to duplicate this method developing a concept known as “wing warping” (History.com Staff). Wilbur then resolved to create a wind tunnel in which he could test the best wing shape for an airplane. Soon after, “their third glider became the first fully controllable aircraft, with roll, pitch, and yaw controls” (Engler). With help from Charlie Taylor, the Wright’s mechanic, they were able to design and build a gasoline engine powerful enough to propel an airplane. This extraordinary achievement would one day change the world. At the time, however, these genius brothers still had much to perfect. The 1903 Wright Flyer did actually fly, but it was hard to control. They soon established the world’s first test flight facilities at Huffman Prairie.