Wright Brothers
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The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903. In the two years afterward, the brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft. Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. The brothers' fundamental breakthrough was their invention of three-axis control, which enabled the pilot to steer the aircraft effectively and to maintain its equilibrium. This method became standard and remains standard on fixed-wing aircraft of all kinds. From the beginning of their aeronautical work, the Wright brothers focused on developing a reliable method of pilot control as the key to solving "the flying problem". This approach differed significantly from other experimenters of the time who put more emphasis on developing powerful engines. Using a small homebuilt wind tunnel, the Wrights also collected more accurate data than any before, enabling them to design and build wings and propellers that were more efficient than any before. Their first U.S. patent, 821,393, did not claim invention of a flying machine, but rather, the invention of a system of aerodynamic control that manipulated a flying machine's surfaces. They gained the mechanical skills essential for their success by working for years in their shop with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and other machinery. Their work with bicycles in particular influenced their belief that an unstable vehicle like a flying machine could be controlled and balanced with practice. From 1900 until their first powered flights in late 1903, they conducted extensive glider tests that also developed their skills as pilots. Their bicycle shop employee Charlie Taylor became an important part of the team, building their first aircraft engine in close collaboration with the brothers. The Wright brothers' status as inventors of the airplane has been subject to counter-claims by various parties. Much controversy persists over the many competing claims of early aviators. From Wikipedia under the
GNU Free Documentation License Matching Results for Wright Brothers:hithertoThe Wright Brothers flew the first successful manned, powered and controlled aircraft in 1903, a feat which hitherto had not been accomplished, ... Orville 1998 Fred Howard, Wilbur and Orville: A Biography of the Wright Brothers, Courier Dover, ISBN 0486402975, page 4: Orville Wright was born in 1871. ... heavier-than-air (of an aircraft) Weighing more than the volume of air which it displaces. ... last surviving witness to the Wright brothers' historic first heavier-than-air ... From Wiktionary under the
GNU Free Documentation License Matching Results for Wright Brothers:Wilbur WrightIt is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill. This I conceive to be fortunate, for man, by reason of his greater intellect, can more ... Incorrect predictions Sometimes, someone says something that turns out to be an incorrect prediction. In hindsight, however, the people who said these things may have had good reasons for ... The Five Heartbeats This page was last modified on 15 January 2011, at 22:46. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. From Wikiquote under the
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Regional: North America: United States: Ohio ... Wright Brothers Inc. - Produce, sell, and distribute specialty gases for bioscience and research, including Argon, Helium, Nitrogen and Hydrogen. ... Kids: People and Society ... The Wright Story A A - Tells the story of the two brothers who changed the way people looked at the world. ... Orville Wright A A - Sketches and brief history; information also ... Society: History: By Region: North America ... Wright Brothers@ (5) Yeager, Chuck@ (4) 19th Century Authors@ (528) ... who researched the physiology of human digestion, working with a patient who had ...
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