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Wings For The World [[image - painting of the right side of a biplane]] remembered their enthusiasm and unconquerable desire to learn the truth of scientific principles. One of their first requirements was an engine to produce at least eight horsepower and weigh no more than 20 pounds per horsepower. Unable to obtain such an engine, they built one themselves. The plane, weighing 750 pounds, took shape with wings having a total span of a little over 40 feet with the upper and lower wings six feet apart. Wilbur and Orville combined to a rare degree the searching intelligence of the scientist; the visualizing ability of the inventor and the practical craftsmanship of the builder. They were not the first who sought the secret of flight. Certain theories of aerodynamics had been developed and were generally accepted as accurate. One of the major setbacks to the hopes of the Wrights was the discovery, through their own experiments, that these previously accepted theories were incorrect. They had to start from the beginning with their own tables of air pressure. Two of their developments made it possible to build an aeroplane that would fly. One was a crude, wind tunnel and the other was an ingenious set of balances made out of old hacksaw blades and bicycle spokes. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright etched their names into the history of the world with the success of the first powered flight by man. The cold weather and trips inside the shack to warm their hands didn't hamper their enthusiasm. They felt they would fly that day and hung out their signal about 10 o'clock to the Kill Devil Hill life saving station crew. Four men and one boy came to witness that first flight. A strong wind was whipping across the sands, with frequent stronger gusts that rattled the machine's flimsy stays and struts and threatened to overturn it. The engine was started and given time to warm up. Then the throttle was advanced and the machine was held fast against the pull of a taut wire. Orville stretched flat on his stomach beside the pounding engine and grasped the controls. Orville released the wire that held the machine to a track and it started forward into the wind. Wilbur ran at the side of the machine holding the wing to balance it. The course of flight up and down was exceedingly erratic, partly due to the irregularity of the air and partly to the lack of experience in handling the machine. The control of the front rudder was difficult. It was balanced too near the center which gave it a tendency to turn itself when started. The machine would rise suddenly to about 10 feet and then as suddenly dart for the ground. A sudden dart, a little over 120 feet from the point at which it rose into the air, ended the flight. continued on page 32 15
