Wilbur And Orville Wright example essay topic

The Wright Brothers The world was changed on December 17, 1903 when Orville Wright flew the first airplane for a period of 12 seconds. Orville, born in 1871 and his brother Wilbur, born in 1867 grew up in Dayton Ohio with two other brothers, Reuchlin and Lorin and one sister Katherine. They grew up in a loving family, which helped the brothers with the success in their future. Many people are not aware that much of their knowledge that went into the makings of the airplane came from their mother Susan and the bicycle repair shop they owned. Interestingly, Wilbur and Orville were not the men who first thought of flying. In the 16th century, Leonardo de Vinci had thoughts of a "flying machine" that was ahead its time, though aeronautical science was still in its infancy.

They proceeded to develop new scientific information and practical applications. Wilbur's confidence in the advancements of aviation is reflected in the following statement said in 1899 " I am convinced that flight is both possible and practical". Wilbur and Orville Wright made history with the invention of the first effective airplane and changed the world of aviation. Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Katherine Wright raised their five children in Ohio and Iowa. Milton's ecclesiastical career caused the family to move around frequently. The family started in Dayton, Ohio and moved to Iowa in 1878.

They returned to Ohio in 1885. When the boys had a problem they would look to their father for intellectual and scientific advice. Whereas if a toy broke they would go to their mother for mechanical help. Milton and Susan were very supportive of any interests their children pursued. Orville once stated " We were lucky enough to grow up in an environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever around curiosity". Ideas of flying became a fascination at a young age for the boys.

A piece of the aeronautical puzzle fell into place the day that Milton, back from one of his church group trips, brought the boys a flying top toy that was made of cork, paper, bamboo, and rubber bands. This little toy broke quickly but Wilbur and Orville always kept the memory of that toy in the back of their minds. With regard to their education, Wilbur did well in school, but was not able to graduate from high school. His mother contracted and died from tuberculosis.

He also had an accident while in an ice skating game. He was hit in the head with a bat, which resulted in having heart problems. As for Orville, he did not enjoy or excel in school, as had his brother. He was an average student. He was problematic, and his behavior caused him to drop out of high school in his junior year. He developed aspirations to start a printing press firm.

The brothers built their own press with cheap parts, and used it to print their own newspaper as well as other printing jobs. Their attempt at the firm was unsuccessful, so the boys bought a bicycle shop in 1893. This bike shop became a place where much thinking and production towards aviation took place. The Wright Cycle shop opened in 1893.

They made bike repairing their own business. After three years of this business they made their own bikes called Van Cleves and St. Claims. They moved their store 6 times before they converted their store into machinery shop for their manufacturing business. The men of aviation before the Wright brothers had little but significant impact on the process of building the airplane. George Cayley lived in the late 1700's and early 1800's. He was one of the first men to understand that "to fly is not to imitate the flapping wings of a bird but to use rigid wings".

This was a very important idea that proved to be true for the future. Europeans were at work to beat the Americans in building the first heavier-than-air plane. Otto Lilienthal, a German engineer, experimented with hang gliders. His main focus was on a fixed-wing glider not on a whole plane itself. He contributed much respect to the field of aeronautics. In 1896, Orville came down with typhoid.

During this time Wilbur read about a German glider pilots death, Otto Lilienthal. This was the final straw that started the beginning of an aeronautical revolution. With great interest three year later Wilber wrote to the Smithsonian Institution asking for documents regarding the research of aeronautics. "I wish to obtain such papers as the Smithsonian Institution has published on this subject... I wish to avail myself of all that is already known... ".

Little did Wilbur know, there was a man at the Smithsonian that shared his passion by the name of Samuel Pierpont Langley. This man was also the "most prominent scientist in the United States". He made human flight his biggest interest in life. Wilbur received all the resources from the Smithsonian Institution within three years because his letter was among many requesting information; his letter was filed away and forgotten. Even though Otto, Cayley, and Langley worked to invent the airplane, the Wright brothers were by far the most successful. Shortly after all of the information Wilbur received, he realized the necessary elements to make his own glider.

They included wings for lift, power source for propulsion, and a main system controlling the glider. He found that the three axes of motion: pitch, roll and yaw were needed for control. He tested his "wing warping" theories with a kite with a five feet wingspan, made of wood and cloth. This experiment to test the roll axis proved to be a success and the results were used in the design of the gliders made in the beginning of the 1900's. In August 1900 the brother made their first glider. They designed it with en elevator (an airfoil that makes the plane ascend and descend), 17-foot wingspan and biplane wings.

They tested this glider at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. It did not have very good lift so they abandoned it in Kitty Hawk where later a family retrieved it. Following the 1900 glider, there another one made in 1901 that was the least successful glider, and another made in 1902 that included the principles of pitch, roll and yaw. Then in 1903 the Wright brothers made the first flight with man flying inside of the plane. In the morning of December 17th 1903 the brothers prepared to retest the Flyer that had been damaged a few days before when Wilbur stalled it on take off.

At 10: 35 am Orville got in the pilots seat and took off making him the first man to fly in an aircraft. Although that 12-second trip only covered 120 feet he did what no man had done before. One would expect that such a miraculous event would be all over the press, but in fact only two newspapers reported on the Wright brothers achievement. At this time it was odd for people to try and invent the airplane, let alone fly in it.

Many people did not think it was possible. Wilbur and Orville Wright proved them wrong. In 1905 they were issued a patent for their invention. By 1908 the brothers were flying as far as 25 miles and made the thought of flying very possible. They were also showing the world their production. The following year Wilbur and Orville began to manufacture airplanes and engines.

Then in 1911, they came out with their Model EX testing at Kitty Hawk to experiment with an automatic stabilizer. Tragically, Wilbur died at the age of 45 of typhoid. In 1915 Orville decided that he was going to sell his company, feeling it was not right since his brother was gone. He went on to be a consulting engineer for the planes used in World War 1. In 1932 there was a monument constructed in Kitty Hawk dedicated to the Wright brothers. That monument is still standing today.

Bill Gates once said of Kitty Hawk " It was an inspiration to be there, and to soak up the American perseverance and creativity of these two pioneers. (1999) " Orville Wright died in 1948 of a heart attack in his hometown. This same year the 1903 Flyer is admitted into the Smithsonian Institution. The airplanes have come a long way since the makings of the Wright brothers. In 1927 Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean to Paris in 39.5 hours all by himself. That had never been done before.

Nowadays people own their own private jets and planes can carry hundreds of people along with luggage or food. But the Wright brother did more than make it possible for people to fly, they made a connection that many never thought possible. The plane brought separated families together, medicine to the sick in other countries and of course they made travel faster. The Wright brothers turned themselves into revolutionary icons with their determination and passion for the world of aviation.

Bibliography

Books: The Americans A History, Winthrop D Jordan / Miriam Greenblatt / John S. Bowes To Conquer the Air, James Tobin Articles: Gates, Bill. Top 100 Most Influential People Time Magazine March 29, 1999 Wright, Wilbur and Orville.
The Wright Brothers Aeroplane September 1908 Internet: The Henry Ford Museum Exhibits, The Wright Brothers July 30th 1995.