Early Efforts

Almost everybody knows that the Wright brothers first flew a controlled, powered heavier-than-air craft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. What many people don't realize is that the brothers did many earlier experiments before they achieved powered flight and that the work of several earlier men led to their success.

There were the Montgolfier brothers who, in 1783, built an "aerostate" that consisted of a huge linen bag, lined with paper and heated by a small, straw-fed fire, and J.A.C. Charles who introduced the hydrogen balloon, also in 1783. In 1852, Frenchman Henri Giffard invented the dirigible (French for "steerable") airship, the first balloon with machinery. It was powered by a steam engine that drove three propellers, and steered by a triangular rudder.

In the late nineteenth century, German Otto Lilienthal (below left) had a conical hill built near Berlin from which he could experiment with his gliders, which we call hang gliders today. After twenty-five years of experiments, Lilienthal made his first flight in 1891. He steered the vehicle by shifting his weight, but that did not provide any real control. Unfortunately Lilienthal was fatally injured in 1896 in a fall; by then he had completed almost 2,000 short flights. The Wright brothers built on all the work that preceded their experiments but they were most influenced by Lilienthal. (Alter, Judy pp. 193-194)

Another gliding pioneer was Octave Chanute (above right). He was an American engineer famous for large projects such as building a long bridge over the Missouri River. Chanute had visited Lilienthal in Germany to discuss gliding and flying. From 1896 to 1898, Chanute and his team built and flew several Lilienthal-type hang gliders.

Lilienthal, Chanute, and others published their experiments and results in scientific magazines and books. Chanute became the leading figure in America for information and reports on the science of flight. The Wrights asked him for advice, and they became friends, writing regular letters to each other. (Parker, Steve p.11)

Next: Getting Airborne

A Dream is Born

"From the time we were little children, my brother Orville and myself lived together, played together, worked together, and in fact, thought together." -- Wilbur Wright

Wilbur was born on a farm near Milville, Indiana, April 16 , 1867. The family moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Orville was born on August 19, 1871, at 7 Hawthorn Street. They had two older brothers, Reuchlin & Lorin, and a younger sister, Katharine. (Parker, Steve p.5)

Their father, Milton Wright, became a bishop of the United Brethren Church. He was sometimes away from home for long periods and taught his sons that with hard work and a will to succeed, they could achieve almost anything. During their schooldays Orville and Wilbur were always messing about with machines and playing with kites. (Parker, Steve p.5)

As boys, Wilbur and Orville loved to build and fix things. One of the first things they built together was a lathe -- a machine for cutting and shaping pieces of wood. Their father encouraged the boys in their building projects. On his return home from one of his trips, Pastor Wright brought his sons a flying toy. It was made of cork and paper and was powered by rubber bands. The toy fascinated Wilbur and Orville. (Santella, Andrew p.8)

In 1884, the Wrights moved back to Dayton, Ohio, home of the United Brethren Publishing House. By that time, Pastor Wright was a bishop in the church and editor of the church newspaper. At around the same time, Susan Wright became ill with tuberculosis. Wilbur stayed home to take care of his mother, but sadly her condition became worse, and she died in 1889. 

Afterwards, Wilbur began to help his father produce the church newspaper. He contributed articles and invented a machine to fold papers in half for delivery. Orville left school and started his own printing business. With Wilbur's help, he built a printing press and started a weekly newspaper called the West Side News. Wilbur became the newspaper's editor. (Santella, Andrew pp. 9-10)

Next, the brothers and Ed Sines set up as Wright and Wright, Job Printers. They worked hard, producing posters, ads, leaflets, and cards, and built up the business. Soon bicycles took over from printing. Ed Sines was put in charge of the printing business.

Beginning in 1892, Wilbur and Orville set up the Wright Cycle Company. They opened a shop at 1127 West Third Street, Dayton, then started more shops. They sold bicycles, repaired and rented them, and began to design and make their own models. In future years, the money from the cycle business would allow the Wrights to spend many months on their flying machines. (Parker, Steve p.7)

The Wrights constantly taught themselves more skills with machines and mechanics. They worked with metals and woods and used tools such as drills and lathes. They even made a small combustion engine to power their workshop machinery.

During the late 1890s, the Wright brothers' interests moved on again. Gliding was in the news. It was said that one day a person would achieve real powered flight. Whoever did this would become famous and wealthy. Remembering the kites and "bat" toy of their childhood, the Wrights decided that they wanted to build a flying machine. (Parker, Steve p.8)

Next: Early Efforts

What's the Truth?

Many people know the Wright brothers as the two great men who invented the first powered airplane. They see them as pioneers, as well as heroes; without them we would not be exploring the skies today. But is that really true? Maybe there's another side to this story, and maybe it's even possible that the Wrights actually slowed down early aviation instead of helping it along.

If the question were asked: "What would world aviation have been like in 1910 if there had been no Wright brothers?" the answers might be:

     1. "Man would still be earth-bound" by some
     2. "The same as it actually was in 1910" by better informed others
     3. "About where it was in 1915" by those knowing the full truth of the matter

Actually, the Wright brothers inhibited flight far more than they accelerated its development.

(Carpenter, Jack, Pendulum II p.ix)

Next: A Dream is Born

Introduction

In 2004, high school student Elora G. Lyda created a website that carefully explored the facts behind the Wright Brothers' troublesome influence on the development of aviation. This fascinating investigation earned a First Place trophy in California State's National History Day 2004 competition.

Her innovative website no longer exists, but I (Elora's Dad) recently discovered a CD that preserved each page of this prize-winning entry. I am recreating it here to honor her exhaustive efforts, and to provide a useful resource for future students and researchers.

This is a reconstruction of a website created more than ten years ago, so most of the links to other sites are no longer valid. Also, the videos Elora used have been replaced with currently available ones.

Below is the original animated background Elora designed for her 2004 GeoCities site

For more like this, go to: Jack Carpenter Collection

To see Elora's Wright Brothers Home Page, go here: What's the Truth?