diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/66194-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/66194-0.txt | 1085 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 1085 deletions
diff --git a/old/66194-0.txt b/old/66194-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c6be0d4..0000000 --- a/old/66194-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1085 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Wright Brothers, by Anonymous - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Wright Brothers - -Author: Anonymous - -Release Date: August 31, 2021 [eBook #66194] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT BROTHERS *** - - - - - _The_ - WRIGHT BROTHERS - - -“As scientists, they discovered the secret of flight. As inventors, -builders and flyers, they brought aviation to the world.” - - -On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the first -power-driven heavier-than-air machine ever to achieve sustained flight -rose from its starting track and in 12 seconds soared through the air -for a distance of 120 feet. Short as this flight was, it nevertheless -marked the beginning of man’s conquest of the air. Orville Wright was at -the controls; Wilbur Wright balanced the machine at the take-off. This -picture records for posterity an epochal event witnessed by just seven -men, the Wright brothers themselves and five others who, more than they -knew, stood that day on the threshold of history. - - [Illustration: The first flight at Kitty Hawk, N. C., December 17, - 1903.] - - [Illustration: uncaptioned] - -The Age of Flight, with its miracle of service, began in an obscure -little bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. Here two devoted brothers, working -amid tires, wheels and air pumps, dreamed that man could fly in a -heavier-than-air machine. The names of these two brothers who wrote -themselves indelibly into history, were Wilbur and Orville Wright. - -The story of the Wright brothers is an inspiring narrative of success. -Wilbur and Orville combined to a rare degree the searching intelligence -of the scientist, the ability to visualize of the inventor, and the -practical craftsmanship of the builder. In addition they had great -personal courage. - -The Wright brothers were by no means the first who sought the secret of -flight. Particularly in Europe, able men had delved deep and risked much -in the effort to fly like a bird. Certain theories of aerodynamics had -been developed and were generally accepted as accurate. One of the major -setbacks to the hopes of the Wrights was the discovery, through their -own experiments, that these previously accepted theories were incorrect. - -This meant that they had to start from the beginning and develop their -own tables of air pressures. Two developments of the Wrights made it -possible to build an aeroplane that would fly. One was a crude wind -tunnel and the other was an ingenious set of balances made out of old -hack saw blades and bicycle spokes. With these comparatively crude -instruments, they compiled data which made flight possible. - -In the months and years following their first flights, the Wrights were -acclaimed by nations and by men. They knew success in the fullest -measure. But probably no subsequent achievement quite equaled the thrill -which must have been theirs when they were able to send to their father -and sister that now famous message: - - “Success four flights Thursday morning all against twenty-one-mile - wind started from level with engine power alone average speed through - air thirty-one miles longest 59 seconds inform press home Christmas.” - - - - - An idea is born - - - [Illustration: The shop of the Wright Cycle Company on West Third - Street in Dayton ... birthplace of the aeroplane.] - -The Wright brothers sprang from pioneers who settled Dayton when the -Ohio country was young. Their father, the Reverend Milton Wright, became -a bishop of the United Brethren Church. His vocation necessitated -frequent changes of residence. Thus it came about that Wilbur was born -April 16, 1867, on a farm eight miles from Newcastle, Indiana, while -Orville was born in a house at 7 Hawthorn Street in Dayton. This house -was the Wright home for more than forty years. - -From earliest childhood, the boys were mechanically minded. They had -both the inclination and the aptitude for creative work. The pioneering -urge and the gift of original thinking were theirs. - - [Illustration: An issue of the “West Side News,” an early Wright - venture.] - -One day the Bishop came home from a short trip, bringing the children a -present. He held something in his hands and then tossed it toward them. -It was a toy helicopter. Instead of flopping to the floor, it ascended -to the ceiling where it fluttered before it fell. That helicopter set up -a milepost in the lives of the Wright boys. The idea of their future -conquest of the air, in all likelihood, was born then and there. - - [Illustration: Wilbur Wright in the bicycle shop, 1897.] - - [Illustration: Orville Wright, in white shirt, at work in shop.] - -At an early age they began to fly kites. They became interested -successively in wood cuts, printing and photography. The urge for -invention was strong in them. Wilbur got a job folding the entire issue -of an eight-page church paper. When he found the handwork tiring and -tedious, he designed and built a machine that did the folding. - - [Illustration: The house on Hawthorn Street, home of the Wrights for - 40 years and now re-erected in Greenfield Village in Dearborn, - Michigan.] - -Orville was no less enterprising. When he was 15, he entered into a -partnership with Ed Sines, a neighbor boy, and launched the printing -firm of Sines and Wright. The plant was located in a corner of the Sines -kitchen. One of their first ventures was to print a little paper called -“The Midget.” - - [Illustration: One of the Wrights’ first efforts to measure the - effect of air pressure was this horizontal bicycle wheel mounted on - one of their own bicycles and equipped with two metal vanes. This - bicycle was placed in the Park through the co-operation of the - family of the late Frank Miller, former Superintendent of Dayton - Schools.] - -Later Orville started a weekly newspaper called the “West Side News.” -Wilbur joined him as an editorial writer. These publications and others -which followed were printed on a press which the Wright boys designed -and built. - -In 1892 came the enterprise that was to provide the setting for, and the -approach to, the supreme adventure with which the names of the Wright -brothers are associated. The boys became absorbed in bicycles. Orville -became interested in track racing and participated in several events. In -their enthusiasm the boys decided to go into the bicycle business. After -embarking on bicycle selling they discovered they must have a repair -shop. Punctures provided the bulk of their business, with free air as a -side issue. The first shop of what became the Wright Cycle Company was -at 1005 West Third Street. - -Business increased to such an extent that the Wrights moved to South -Williams Street. Here they began to manufacture bicycles. Their first -model was called the Van Cleve, named after one of their pioneer Dayton -ancestors. Continued expansion of the business necessitated a move to -1127 West Third Street. This was the shop linked with the birth and -development of aviation. It was here that Wilbur and Orville not only -dreamed of flying but practically built the first plane. - -A hint of what the future had in store came one day when the brothers -were discussing what was then the new-fangled horseless carriage. Since -it was an original idea, it appealed to them. Orville suggested that -they might engage in the automobile business. “No,” replied Wilbur, -“you’d be tackling the impossible. Why, it would be easier to build a -flying machine.” - - [Illustration: A replica of the Wrights’ original wind tunnel which - secured its pressure from a fan mounted on the shaft of an old - grinding wheel.] - -The first active interest in flying that the Wrights displayed developed -in 1895 when they read about the glider experiments being carried out by -Otto Lilienthal in Germany. They now began to read everything they could -lay hands on that bore on the attempts of man to fly, going back to the -days of the great Leonardo da Vinci. They wrote to the Smithsonian -Institution for a list of books on the subject. The germ of flying now -entered their systems, never to be eradicated. - -The Wrights went thoroughly into the problem of gliders. After -Lilienthal had been killed while gliding, the brothers discovered that -neither he nor any other man who glided had an adequate method of -insuring lateral balance. In seeking the solution to this problem, -Orville worked out a theory for the operation to vary the inclination of -sections of the wings, thereby obtaining force for restoring balance. -Thus he hit upon a fundamental principle which became a claim in the -original Wright patent. - - [Illustration: One of the most valued possessions of the Wrights, a - balance made of hacksaw blades. With this balance they evolved their - own tables of air pressure which eventually enabled them to fly. The - original balance is in Franklin Institute, Philadelphia; this - replica is in Wright Hall, Carillon Park.] - - [Illustration: Many glider flights at Kitty Hawk preceded the first - attempt to fly in a power-driven plane. Here the Wrights are flying - a glider as a kite, controlling it from the ground. Later flights - were made in man-carrying gliders.] - -The brothers now began to study wing structure, but hit upon many -difficulties. A simple incident set them on the right track. In selling -a customer an inner tube for a tire, Wilbur had taken the tube from the -pasteboard box and was idly twisting the box back and forth as he talked -to the customer. In doing so he noticed that although the vertical sides -remained rigid at the ends, the top and bottom sides could be twisted so -that they made different angles at the opposite ends. He immediately -wondered why the wings of a gliding machine could not be warped from one -end to the other in this same way. In this way the wings could be put at -a greater angle at one side than the other and there would be no -structural weakness. Wilbur explained the plan to Orville and it seemed -so satisfactory that they adopted it for their gliders. - -The Wrights were now glider-conscious. They built a bi-plane kite with a -new system of controls. In 1900 the brothers constructed a man-carrying -glider. In order to get practice in operation, they decided to fly it -first as a kite. For kite flying they required flat, open country; and -for gliding, sand hills free from trees or shrubs were necessary. -Favorable winds were also needed. - -From reports received from the Weather Bureau in Washington, the Wrights -learned that a place named Kitty Hawk in North Carolina seemed to meet -all requirements. So they wrote to the man in charge of the weather -station there for further information. On his and other data, the -brothers came to the conclusion that Kitty Hawk was suitable for -experiments. What was then a tiny spot on the map was to become, in -time, a center of world interest. - - [Illustration: Diary of Orville Wright, showing page recording the - first successful flight.] - - [Illustration: Map of Kitty Hawk area.] - - - - - Man conquers the air - - -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.] - - - - - The Wrights learn to fly - - -Although the first flight took place at Kitty Hawk, the Wrights -themselves always said that they really learned to fly on Huffman -Prairie east of Dayton on the present site of Wright-Patterson Field. -Having proved that they could fly even if for a maximum of less than a -minute, they now set out to build a more practical and useful machine. -They reasoned that if they could fly 852 feet against a 20-mile wind as -they did in the fourth flight at Kitty Hawk, it should be possible to -build a plane which would fly much farther. - -The plane in which the first flight was made was called the Kitty Hawk. -Construction of its immediate successor began in January, 1904. It was -much the same as the one flown at Kitty Hawk but there were a number of -changes and the construction was more sturdy throughout. This plane was -equipped with an entirely new engine. Because of a shortage of spruce in -Dayton they changed to white pine for spar construction, thinking it -would be equally good. However, the pine broke in actual use and the -wings had to be entirely rebuilt. - - [Illustration: Wilbur Wright during the first demonstrations of the - plane in Europe.] - - [Illustration: Wilbur at the controls during a flight in France.] - - [Illustration: Orville and Wilbur Wright, modest men whose - achievements made history.] - - [Illustration: Original patent issued to the Wrights.] - - [Illustration: Katherine and Orville Wright aboard ship bound for - Europe.] - - [Illustration: Orville Wright with Thomas A. Edison.] - - [Illustration: Towing the plane from one field to another at Le - Mans, France.] - - [Illustration: Upon their return from Europe in May 1908, the Wright - brothers and their sister, Katherine, were received at the White - House by President Taft.] - - [Illustration: Orville Wright, members of his family and fellow - Daytonians at dedication of the Kitty Hawk monument.] - - [Illustration: The pilot lay prone in early Wright planes.] - - [Illustration: One of many cartoons depicting the honors which came - to the Wright brothers.] - - [Illustration: Dayton newspaper reporting the Home-coming - Celebration in honor of the Wright brothers.] - - [Illustration: Orville Wright with Colonel E. A. Deeds on a visit to - Wright Field.] - - [Illustration: Orville Wright with Henry Ford as Dayton honored 35th - anniversary of flight.] - - [Illustration: The Wright home and bicycle shop as they appear today - in Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan.] - -During 1904 more than 100 flights had been made at Huffman Prairie. Of -those flights, a complete circle made for the first time on the 20th of -September and two flights of three miles each were the most notable. In -May of 1905 the Wrights made various improvements in the machine making -it much stronger at various points which had proved weak when landing in -1904 flights. The warping of the wings and operation of the tail rudder -were made independent of each other and the camber of the wings was -changed. The most important development was the addition of two -“blinkers” between the surfaces of the front elevator. The purpose of -the blinkers was to assist the rear rudder in making a turn. This device -was patented and proved quite important for it removed the danger of a -tail spin. - -The Wright brothers considered their flights of 1905 of great -importance, and the 1905 plane proved through performance that it was a -greatly improved “flyer.” In a report to the Aero Club of America dated -March 12, 1906, they said this: - -“The object of the 1905 experiments was to determine the cause and -discover remedies for several obscure and somewhat rare difficulties -which had been encountered in some of the 1904 flights and which it was -necessary to overcome before it would be safe to employ flyers for -practical purposes. Toward the middle of September, means of correcting -the obscure troubles were found and the flyer was at last brought under -satisfactory control. From this time forward almost every flight -established a new record.” The last flight was the longest of all, -lasting for 38 minutes and 3 seconds and covering 24⅕ miles. It ended -because of exhaustion of fuel. The gas tank, which held only about a -gallon, had, through oversight, not been full before the take-off. - - [Illustration: One of the many flights made over Huffman Prairie, - just east of Dayton on present site of Wright-Patterson airfields.] - - [Illustration: The Wright Memorial overlooking Huffman Prairie.] - - - - - THE WRIGHT MEMORIAL - - On a hilltop overlooking Huffman Prairie where the Wright brothers - accomplished so much, stands this shaft, made of North Carolina pink - granite and erected by the citizens of Dayton in their memory. To - the east lies Wright Field, the great government air center named in - their honor. The principal bronze plaque tells in a few words the - story of their great contribution to the progress of mankind. A - smaller tablet records the names of those early flyers who were - trained by the Wright brothers. In the simplicity of design and the - strength of structure, it reflects the characters of the men it - honors. - -The report to the Aero Club continued, “The 1905 flyer had a total -weight of about 925 pounds, including the operator and was of such -substantial construction as to be able to make landings at high speed -without being strained or broken. From the beginning the prime object -was to devise a machine of practical utility, rather than a useless and -extravagant toy.... The favorable results which have been obtained have -been due to improvements in flying quality resulting from more -scientific design and to improved methods of balancing and steering.... -The best dividends on the labor invested have invariably come from -seeking more knowledge rather than more power.” - -The submission of this report was followed by the adoption of a -resolution by the Aero Club commending the Wrights upon their -accomplishment. This, it might be said, marked official recognition on -the part of the public that the Wrights really had flown. Despite -numerous flights made in 1904 and 1905, there was considerable -skepticism and grave doubts on the part of most people that flights were -being made. In fact, the unwillingness of the world to believe that man -could fly was one of the ironies of the Wright story. It was many months -before the last doubting Thomas was convinced that practical flight had -actually been achieved. - -Improvements had been made on the 1905 plane, including the engine. In -1908 the plane was taken to Kitty Hawk for further tests. After several -successful flights, an accident occurred which so badly damaged the -plane that it was dismantled and stored there in frame hangars. Over the -years parts of the plane were given to several museums and others were -acquired by residents of the area as mementoes. The engine, the -propellers and other parts were shipped back to Dayton. - - [Illustration: The restored 1905 aeroplane in process of - reconstruction. Engineers and others who inspected the plane during - its rebuilding, marveled at the craftsmanship reflected in its - original construction.] - -When it was decided to reconstruct an early Wright plane for Carillon -Park, the first thought was that it should be a replica of the Kitty -Hawk, which of course would have been accurate in appearance but would -have contained no original parts. - -Orville Wright himself suggested that if the original parts of the 1905 -plane could be brought together, a plane which could truly be called a -restored Wright aeroplane could be built. An exhaustive search was begun -and with the co-operation of the museums and the residents of Kitty -Hawk, many of the original parts were secured. Orville Wright located -the original drawings and supervised much of the reconstruction. His -death occurred shortly before the plane was finished. - -At least 60 per cent of the parts in the plane are original. These -include the engine, the chain guides, control levers and pilot’s cradle, -the propellers, the greater part of the wing structure as well as some -of the front rudder struts. Construction of the plane was supervised by -Mr. Harvey D. Geyer, an early employee of the Wrights, who was uniquely -fitted for this responsibility and who, in contributing his services, -has done much to perpetuate the achievements of the Wrights in their -home city. As does the original Kitty Hawk in the Smithsonian -Institution, this restored plane will, for generations to come, help to -tell the story of the genius of the Wrights. - - [Illustration: Newspaper headlines] - - - - - Recognition ... at home and abroad - - - [Illustration: King Edward VII visits Wright brothers during flights - at Pau, France.] - -A world that has convinced itself something cannot be done, yields -slowly to the realization that the “impossible” has been achieved. When -the Wrights approached their own government with the suggestion that -their invention might be useful for scouting purposes their proposal -evoked no interest. Actually, appreciation of the implications and -possibilities of the new device came more quickly from Europe than -America. England and France were among the first to seek information on -the machine that had so thoroughly proved its ability to fly. As early -as 1905 a member of the French military had at least made unofficial -inquiry as to the cost of a plane, but for a time this led to nothing. - -In 1907 the United States government realized that the Wrights had -proved the practicability of flying. The Signal Corps drew up -specifications and asked for bids. The Wrights offered to build a test -plane for $25,000. Their bid was accepted in February, 1908. Three -months later they signed a contract with a French syndicate to sell or -license the use of the plane in France. The Wrights were now in the -international picture. - - [Illustration: King Alfonso XIII of Spain was keenly interested in - flying, but promised his family that he would not make flight.] - -About this time the Wrights, always seeking better performance, made a -notable improvement in their plane. In their first historic flight and -during the experiments on Huffman Prairie, they rode “belly buster” just -as a boy does when coasting on a sled. They now made a different -arrangement of levers which enabled them to sit up while piloting the -plane. A seat for a passenger was also provided. Interestingly enough, -recent experiments with high-speed planes have brought some return of -the prone position for the pilot. - -On May 14, 1908, newspaper men saw a history-making flight at Kitty -Hawk. The remodeled 1905 machine under perfect control carried two men. -Flights for the army followed in September and the last trace of -skepticism disappeared. Unfortunately, on the last flight Lieutenant -Selfridge, the passenger, was killed and Orville severely injured. - -The year 1908 was notable in the saga of the Wrights. Wilbur made a -series of flights abroad that not only won all observers but aroused -wide interest and admiration throughout Europe. His quiet demeanor, his -unassuming modesty and his proved skill, stirred the popular -imagination. The French exalted him to the status of a hero. The great -of the world flocked to meet him and see him fly. They included King -Edward VII of England, King Alfonso XIII of Spain, and the Dowager Queen -Margherita of Italy. Invitations to fly came from Rome and Berlin. In -Rome King Victor Emmanuel watched him fly. - - [Illustration: Wilbur, at right, in characteristic pose—making a - repair in France.] - - [Illustration: Orville Wright with army officer during highly - successful flights at Fort Myer, Virginia.] - -In December, 1908, Orville and his sister, Katherine, went to Europe to -join Wilbur. The weather at Le Mans where Wilbur had been flying became -unsuitable for further flights and operations were transferred to Pau in -southern France. Here Orville and Katherine joined Wilbur. Many flights -were made and many distinguished visitors came to see the modern miracle -of human flight. - -Honors were heaped upon the Wrights. They received among many other -distinctions, the gold medal of the Aeronautical Society of Great -Britain and the Aero Club of the United Kingdom. The French Aero Club of -the Sarthe gave them a bronze trophy. Later the Aero Club of America -bestowed medals on the flyers. A few weeks afterward, President Taft -received the Wrights at the White House and the brothers returned to -Dayton where a tumultuous welcome awaited them. - - [Illustration: Wilbur flies low over spectators’ carriages at Pau, - France.] - - - - - Welcome home! - - - [Illustration: Main Street and Third on day of great Homecoming - Celebration, June 17, 1909.] - -Probably nothing stirred the Wrights quite so deeply as their welcome -when they returned to Dayton from their foreign triumphs. The -“homecoming” lasted two days, June 17 and 18, 1909. Whistles blew, bands -played, bells rang, men, women and children paraded. During the -celebration practically all business in Dayton was suspended. - - [Illustration: Orville and Wilbur on second day of Dayton - demonstration.] - -Wilbur and Orville rode to the celebration in a carriage with their old -friends, Ed Sines, boyhood newspaper partner of Orville, and Ed Ellis, a -long-time friend of Wilbur. The Wrights reviewed a parade in their honor -and in the evening witnessed a spectacular display of fireworks. The -celebration continued the next day when one of the features was the -formation of a huge living American flag by 2,500 school children, -wearing red, white and blue. Immediately after the celebration Wilbur -and Orville left for Washington to complete the trials for the Army at -Fort Myer. The contract with the government had specified that the plane -must do forty miles an hour. Actually, Orville completed one 10-mile -flight in 14 minutes at approximately 43 miles per hour. The Wright -plane was accepted by the Army at the conclusion of these tests. - - [Illustration: Michelin Trophy awarded to Wright brothers for - achievements in France.] - - [Illustration: {Medal from the Aero Club of America.}] - - [Illustration: This trophy from the Aero Club of Sarthe, France, was - placed in niche in Wright home.] - -Immediately after the flights at Fort Myer, Orville and Katherine left -for Germany. His purpose was to train pilots for the German company -which had been organized. He made many flights on that trip, some of -them witnessed by members of the royal family and on one of which the -Crown Prince was a passenger. On one he raised the world’s altitude -record from 100 meters to 172 meters, roughly 550 feet. Shortly -thereafter he flew for one hour, thirty-five minutes and forty-seven -seconds with a passenger, thereby establishing a new world’s record for -a flight with a passenger. - -While Orville was in Germany in 1909, Wilbur was making spectacular -flights around New York. In one of these he flew 21 miles from -Governor’s Island up the Hudson River to Grant’s Tomb and back. - -To train pilots to fly their planes the Wrights opened a flying school -on Huffman Prairie where those early and precarious flights had been -made. Here a notable group of flyers received their training. One of -them was Henry H. Arnold who became Commanding General of the Army Air -Corps in World War II. - -In May, 1910, Wilbur made his last flight as pilot. Shortly afterward he -and Orville flew for a brief time together. It was the only flight when -the brothers were both in the air at the same time. Later the same day -Orville took up his 82-year-old father. In the spirit of the Wrights the -Bishop’s only comment was ... “Higher! Higher!” Orville’s final flight -as pilot was made in 1918 from South Field near Dayton. - - [Illustration: Orville Wright meeting with members of National - Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.] - -After an illness of three weeks, Wilbur Wright died on May 30, 1912, in -his forty-fifth year. The whole world mourned him. Thus, in the prime of -life, with a record of achievement privileged to few, passed a notable -figure in American creative history. Orville Wright survived his brother -for 36 years, passing away January 30, 1948. Throughout his life he -maintained his active interest in aviation, was a life member of the -National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and a frequent and honored -visitor to Wright Field, the great Air Force research center named in -honor of the Wright brothers. - - [Illustration: Always interested in new developments, Orville Wright - visits Wright Field.] - - [Illustration: The “Kitty Hawk,” Smithsonian Institution, - Washington.] - -The Wright brothers have been honored by many nations. Medals, trophies, -monuments tell in part, at least, the story of their great achievement. -The original Kitty Hawk aeroplane holds the place of honor in the -aeronautical exhibit of Smithsonian Institution, Washington. A replica -of the Kitty Hawk in the Science Museum at South Kensington, London, -speaks for the British nation in honoring the Wrights. Monuments have -been erected at Kitty Hawk, N. C., at Le Mans, France, and at Dayton. -And now Wright Hall with its restored 1905 plane takes its place as one -of the efforts of a grateful world to honor one of man’s greatest -achievements. - - [Illustration: Wright Memorial, Kitty Hawk, N. C.] - - [Illustration: Monument to Wrights, Le Mans, France.] - - - [Illustration: Wright Hall in Carillon Park houses restored 1905 - Wright aeroplane.] - -On the walls of Wright Hall is inscribed this tribute to the -achievements and to the personal character of two great Americans: - - _In honored memory of Wilbur and Orville Wright, citizens of Dayton - and of the world. Through original research, the Wright brothers - acquired scientific knowledge and developed theories of aerodynamics - which, with their invention of aileron control, enabled them in 1903 - to build and fly, at Kitty Hawk, the first power-driven, man-carrying - aeroplane capable of flight._ - - _Their further development of the aeroplane gave it a capacity for - service which established aviation as one of the great forward steps - in human progress._ - - _As scientists, Wilbur and Orville Wright discovered the secret of - flight. As inventors, builders and flyers, they brought aviation to - the world._ - - _Their courage, perseverance and ability are comparable only to the - magnitude of their achievement. The aeroplane will stand for all time - as one of those few truly great inventions which have shaped the life - and destiny of man._ - - - CARILLON PARK - DAYTON, OHIO - - One of a series of Carillon Park - booklets. Price ten cents. - - PRINTED IN U.S.A. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - -—Silently corrected a few typos. - -—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook - is public-domain in the country of publication. - -—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by - _underscores_. - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRIGHT BROTHERS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |