A Passion for Aviation
As a child, Orville Wright was playing with a toy helicopter when it broke. It is said that this moment began the brothers' inspiration in inventing, mechanics, and aviation as they worked together to fix the broken toy.
Already having two successful businesses, the printing company and bicycle shop, the brothers were finally able to take their father's advice and go for what they were truly interested in, aeronautics. However, even though their father wanted all his kids to become successful in their dreams, he did not fully agree with the brothers pursuit of flight for men stating, "It is impossible for men of the future to fly like the birds. Flying is reserved for the angels. Do not mention that again lest you be guilty of blasphemy." This did not stop the brothers from pursing their dreams in aviation and they quickly proved their father wrong.
Some of their favorite flight innovators included Octave Chanute in the US and Otto Lilienthal in Germany. Some even say that it was the glider accident that killed Lilienthal that brought about the idea of the brothers to create a plane one can control and power. The brothers had many inventors they looked up to not realizing they too would soon become worldwide heroes and inventors themselves.
It took 13 years of experimenting with ideas, inventions and trial runs before being successful.
Already having two successful businesses, the printing company and bicycle shop, the brothers were finally able to take their father's advice and go for what they were truly interested in, aeronautics. However, even though their father wanted all his kids to become successful in their dreams, he did not fully agree with the brothers pursuit of flight for men stating, "It is impossible for men of the future to fly like the birds. Flying is reserved for the angels. Do not mention that again lest you be guilty of blasphemy." This did not stop the brothers from pursing their dreams in aviation and they quickly proved their father wrong.
Some of their favorite flight innovators included Octave Chanute in the US and Otto Lilienthal in Germany. Some even say that it was the glider accident that killed Lilienthal that brought about the idea of the brothers to create a plane one can control and power. The brothers had many inventors they looked up to not realizing they too would soon become worldwide heroes and inventors themselves.
It took 13 years of experimenting with ideas, inventions and trial runs before being successful.
CITATIONS:
National Park Service (10/17/2013). 1903 - The First Flight.
[ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/historyculture/thefirstflight.htm. [Last Accessed 11
November 13].
GreenLight LLC (2012). Bios. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://wrightbrothers.info/biography.php. [Last Accessed 11 November 13].
The Henry For Corporation (2003). The Wright Brothers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/wright/. [Last Accessed 17 November 13].
"The Wright Brothers." The Wright Brothers. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 November 2013. <http://wrightbrothers.info/>.
Photo Credit:
1. Dr. Bob Gardner. The Wright Brothers: A Centennial Tribute.
[Online] faculty.etsu.edu
National Park Service (10/17/2013). 1903 - The First Flight.
[ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/historyculture/thefirstflight.htm. [Last Accessed 11
November 13].
GreenLight LLC (2012). Bios. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://wrightbrothers.info/biography.php. [Last Accessed 11 November 13].
The Henry For Corporation (2003). The Wright Brothers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/wright/. [Last Accessed 17 November 13].
"The Wright Brothers." The Wright Brothers. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 November 2013. <http://wrightbrothers.info/>.
Photo Credit:
1. Dr. Bob Gardner. The Wright Brothers: A Centennial Tribute.
[Online] faculty.etsu.edu