The spot chosen for the Wrights’ experiments was located on a long strip
of sandy beach separated from the mainland of North Carolina. At one
point was the Kitty Hawk Life Saving Station and alongside, a government
weather station. A mile back from the ocean was the tiny village of
Kitty Hawk. Four miles south was the Kill Devil Life Saving Station.
Altogether, it was a dreary and uninviting area but one where history
was to be made.
The Wrights’ experiments at Kitty Hawk covered two periods. In 1900 they
began flying gliders. Winds proved to be unsatisfactory with the result
that the experiments of this year fell far below expectations. They were
back in 1901 with a much larger glider. From this model they learned
that large surfaces could be controlled almost as easily as smaller
ones, provided the control was by manipulation of the surfaces
themselves instead of the movements of the operator’s body. In their
glider experiments of 1901 they broke all records for distance in
gliding.
Air lift still troubled the brothers, so Orville rigged up a small wind
tunnel made out of an old starch box. Within the box was a balance, the
main feature of which was a metal rod that pivoted like a weather vane.
The starch box experiment led to the design of the more scientific wind
tunnel shown on Page 5.
[Illustration: Newspaper comments on the early efforts of the Wright
brothers.]
In the third glider trials in 1902 the brothers put all their new
knowledge to the test with good results. One new feature was a “tail.”
The idea of making this tail movable led to the system of control
generally used today—the independent control of aileron and rudder. The
third series of glider flights was highly successful.
The Wright brothers were now convinced they could build a successful
power flyer. One of the first requirements was an engine to produce at
least eight horsepower and weigh not more than 20 pounds per horsepower.
Unable to obtain such an engine, they built one themselves. The plane
now took shape with wings having a total span of a little over 40 feet
with the upper and lower wings six feet apart. Total weight of the plane
was 750 pounds.
Although the plane was assembled in Kitty Hawk by September 23, 1903,
weather and various mechanical mishaps postponed the day of trial until
December 14. On the toss of a coin, Wilbur won the right to make the
first trial. The machine climbed a few feet, stalled and fell. Several
parts were broken, requiring two days for repairs. There were other
minor delays and then came the fateful day of December 17.
This time Orville was the pilot. The few spectators stood silently by,
little realizing that they were participating in an event that would be
“forever known.” Orville lay flat in the pilot’s place with Wilbur
running alongside, a hand on a wing, until the machine left the rail.
This, in the words of one of the historians of the flight, is what
happened:
“Signals that all was in readiness were exchanged. The motor turned, the
propellers whirled, a restraining wire was released; the machine rolled
along a crude runway, then took off under its own power and flew for
twelve unbelievable seconds for 120 incredible feet.
“With that brief flight, the first ever made by a heavier-than-air
machine, man was freed from the bonds that held him close to Mother
Earth from the beginning of time, and glimpsed the realization of his
oldest, boldest dream ... the conquest of the air.”
The moment when that homemade plane rose from the ground was akin to
others that heralded epochs in the progress of mankind. Crude as it was,
that first plane represented an almost incredible amount of preparation.
Gliders had been designed, constructed and flown to gain technical data
and piloting technique; a satisfactory system of control had been
discovered; a wind tunnel and balance had been built to amplify flight
data; an aircraft engine sufficiently light in weight had been
developed; and finally an aeroplane had been designed and built. All
these things were accomplished in about three years. As one challenge
followed another, the Wrights met them all and from their first flight
went on to the further development of their invention.
[Illustration: The engines used in the first Wright planes were
built by Orville and Wilbur and had four cylinders. This is the
original engine from the 1903 plane.]
[Illustration: The restored 1905 Wright plane in Wright Hall.]