115 years ago today; Wright Brothers achieve controlled, powered flight in heavier-than-air craft

[Dennis Donovan]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Flyer#Flight_trials_at_Kitty_Hawk



Flight trials at Kitty Hawk
Upon returning to Kitty Hawk in 1903, the Wrights completed assembly of the Flyer while practicing on the 1902 Glider from the previous season. On December 14, 1903, they felt ready for their first attempt at powered flight. With the help of men from the nearby government life-saving station, the Wrights moved the Flyer and its launching rail to the incline of a nearby sand dune, Big Kill Devil Hill, intending to make a gravity-assisted takeoff. The brothers tossed a coin to decide who would get the first chance at piloting, and Wilbur won. The airplane left the rail, but Wilbur pulled up too sharply, stalled,[citation needed] and came down after 3​1?2 seconds with minor damage.

Repairs after the abortive first flight took three days. When they were ready again on December 17, the wind was averaging more than 20 miles per hour (32 km/h), so the brothers laid the launching rail on level ground, pointed into the wind, near their camp. This time the wind, instead of an inclined launch, provided the necessary airspeed for takeoff. Because Wilbur had already had the first chance, Orville took his turn at the controls. His first flight lasted 12 seconds for a total distance of 120 feet (37 m) – shorter than the wingspan of a Boeing 747, as noted by observers in the 2003 commemoration of the first flight.

Taking turns, the Wrights made four brief, low-altitude flights that day. The flight paths were all essentially straight; turns were not attempted. Each flight ended in a bumpy and unintended "landing." The last flight, by Wilbur, was 852 feet (260 m) in 59 seconds, much longer than each of the three previous flights of 120, 175 and 200 feet (37, 53 and 61 m). The landing broke the front elevator supports, which the Wrights hoped to repair for a possible four-mile (6.4 km) flight to Kitty Hawk village. Soon after, a heavy gust picked up the Flyer and tumbled it end over end, damaging it beyond any hope of quick repair. It was never flown again.

[Sherman A1]

1. Thanks for posting

I visited Kitty Hawk a few years ago and it is a cool place to see.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Equally Amazing, IMO. . .

. . .is that just 65 years and 4 days later, 3 guys did an orbit of the moon.

From the first powered flight to going to the moon in 65 years and 4 days, is kind of astounding.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. And my grandmother was around for both events!

[ProfessorGAC]

4. At Least One Of My GP's Was Too

I'm trying to remember how old my mom's dad was when he died. Pretty sure he was 78 and died in 77 or 78. My dad's dad, for sure was alive for both.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. My grandmother was born in September 1900 and died in September 1998

She might not have been aware of the Wright Brothers exactly when it happened, but she remembered reading the newspaper story about the Titanic and crying - and she watched every space flight, including the moon landing. It boggles the mind to think of the changes she witnessed, same for many of our grandparents.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Impressive restoration of The Flyer:

1982




1995

[Dennis Donovan]

7. I remember seeing it in 1975, the last day in the old Arts & Industry building...

...and I distinctly recall it looking darker than it did in the iconic photo from 1903.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. They did a stellar job

And it must have been difficult after all this time, it must have been delicate work.