The Wright brothers

by Hannah B

Contents pageA mans dream of flying.BiographyAirplanes First flightThe year 1903The year 1904 The year 1905Present day flightThe future?

People have dreamed of flying for years. The United States Army was trying to develop an airplane in 1903, but the plane wouldn't fly. The New York Times wrote that maybe in 1 million to 10

million years they might be able to make a plane that would fly.Only eight days later two men were successful in flying the first manned

plane

The Wright brothers invented the airplane with the first sustained and controlled flight on December 17th 1903.They were the first people to fly in the air.They were born in Ohio America and had 5 brother & sisters.

Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948)Born: August 19,1871 Died : January 30 1948Occupation: Printer/publisher, bicycle retailer/manufacturer, airplane inventor/manufacturer, pilot trainer

Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912)Born: April 16 ,1867Died: May 30,1912Occupation: Editor, bicycle retailer/manufacturer, airplane inventor/manufacturer, pilot trainer

AirplanesPlanIn July 1899 Wilbur put his designs to the test. By using rope to control the bi-plane he was able to make the plane go up and down.

GlidersOrville and Wilbur based the design of their kites and full-size gliders on work done in the 1890s by other aviation pioneers. They used gliders until 1902

Adding powerIn 1903 the brothers built the powered Wright Flyer 1. Using theirpreferred material for construction.

The first flight was in 1903 using a propeller-driven airplane that stayed in the air for 12 seconds! It was called the Wright Flyer. They made three more flights that day at a place called Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Only five people were there to see the flights, and very few newspapers even wrote a story about it.

The first plane they had built was a glider that was 16 feet from wing tip to wing tip. It cost them $15 to build it. The fuel-powered plane they flew at Kitty Hawk cost

them less than $1000 to build.

The first flight

December 17, 1903  

The Wrights make the first sustained, controlled, powered flights in an airplane, the Flyer 1, covering up to 852 feet and staying in the air for up to 59 seconds. After four flights, the aircraft is overturned by a gust of wind and destroyed.

The photo that John Daniels took at the

beginning of the first flight.

1904

The Wright brothers built a catapult system to sling their underpowered Flyer 2 into the air. It worked well, and they begin to make progress again.

Although they find the Flyer 2 difficult to control, on September 20 they fly the first complete circle in an aircraft.

In 1904, they began to perfect their aircraft at Huffman Prairie

1905 

The Wright brothers completely rebuilt their aircraft, salvaging only the engine, propellers, and hardware.

The new Flyer 3 is much easier to control, and the Wrights began to stay in the air for longer and longer periods of time.

On October 5, Wilbur flies for 39 minutes, covering over 24 miles and running the gas tank dry.

The Flyer 3 is the world's first practical airplane.

By 1905, they had arrived at what they considered a practical flying machine.

Present day flightTodays planes are similar to the designs of the wright brothers. But it is more advanced from the past , with bigger and more powerful engines, more protection and you can not see strings.

Future flightIf the wright brothers were still around today I think they would be impressed with how flight has developed over the time.

Imagine the time back in 1903, 1904 and 1905 it would be harder to travel. I think I would not go very well with out it. If he was here I think he would be very proud.