Wed, Apr 16, 2003
136 Years Ago, Today
Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867, near Millville,
Indiana.
In a speech to the Western Society of Engineers on September 18,
1901, he said, "The difficulties which obstruct the pathway to
success in flying-machine construction are of three general
classes: (1) Those which relate to the construction of the
sustaining wings; (2) those which relate to the generation and
application of the power required to drive the machine through the
air; (3) those relating to the balancing and steering of the
machine after it is actually in flight. Of these difficulties two
are already to a certain extent solved. Men already know how to
construct wings or aeroplanes which, when driven through the air at
sufficient speed, will not only sustain the weight of the wings
themselves, but also that of the engine and of the engineer as
well. Men also know how to build engines and screws of sufficient
lightness and power to drive these planes at sustaining speed. As
long ago as 1884 a machine weighing 8,000 pounds demonstrated its
power both to lift itself from the ground and to maintain a speed
of from 30 to 40 miles per hour, but failed of success owing to the
inability to balance and steer it properly. This inability to
balance and steer still confronts students of the flying problem,
although nearly eight years have passed. When this one feature has
been worked out, the age of flying machines will have
arrived, for all other difficulties are of minor
importance."
When someone tells you that efforts of the few, or the one, are
of little consequence, remind them of the Brothers Wright... and
for today, of a man named Wilbur Wright.
He changed the world.
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