The Wright Stuff.

Would you ever consider the Bicycle to be a precursor to the airplane? In 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright changed the world of travel with a small number of inventions. Mainly, the first practical fixed-wing aircraft, the three-axis system, and just as important, first successful flight by 'people without wings.'

Starting out as a printing press at 1889, and taking advantage of the bike craze in 1892, both brothers only began their thoughts and experimentation with flight when gliders, and their rider's unfortunate deaths, became big news. As they began work, making gliding possible, but also safety was their first goal. Whenever they tested, they put weights of sandbag in the place where a rider would go.


After successful test glides in 1901 and 1902, they began work on a craft that could hold flight on it's own. To do this, they had to devise their own motor that was light weight, and powerful enough to run the turbine that could help keep the flying machine lifted. Kitty Hawk beach in North Carolina was their best testing ground because of the high winds that the area provided.

On December 17th, 1903, Orville flew the Wright Flyer I four times, the longest flight being 59 seconds and going 852 feet. This success helped to start to change the world as flying became the quikest means of travel for great distances today.



Erik

Sources:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/wright.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers