Meanwhile Wilbur Wright who had gone to France was making a series of
record flights. Early in the month of August near Le Mans he flew
fifty-two miles and was in the air one hour and thirty-one minutes. A
few days later he broke the previous record for altitude, attaining an
elevation of 380 feet. On the 31st day of December he won 20,000 francs
for the longest flight of the year. His modest bearing, simple habits
and wonderful achievements called forth great praise from the
impressionable French. When he took up his quarters at Le Mans he
arranged to prepare his own meals as he had previously done on the coast
of North Carolina, but the French would not hear to this and furnished
him a cook. In speaking of this incident afterward Wilbur Wright said in
a jocular way: "Not knowing enough French to dismiss him or find out who
sent him, I permitted him to remain."
In January, 1909, Orville Wright, who had recovered from his injuries,
joined his brother at Pau, France. Here they gave many exhibition
flights that were witnessed by the great scientists and the nobility of
Europe. Here their feats were witnessed by the King of England and the
King of Spain who personally extended hearty congratulations. Wilbur
took his machine to Rome where King Emanuel attended his exhibition
flights. Later the two brothers were the guests, in London, of the
Aeronautical Society of Great Britain and received its gold medal. Their
bearing and achievements abroad gave them world-wide fame.