Aviation Day

Kinja'd!!! "f86sabre" (f86sabre)
08/19/2015 at 22:15 • Filed to: Planelopnik

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 5
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Like a couple of bosses. Orville and Wilbur had a remarkable relationship. If you can find them, read the Papers of Orville and Wilburn Wright for some amazing insight.


DISCUSSION (5)


Kinja'd!!! ttyymmnn > f86sabre
08/19/2015 at 22:39

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What did they have to go on? Did they study the works of others like Lilienthal? Or was it all insight, trial and error?

I’m looking forward to David McCullough’s upcoming book on the Wright Brothers.


Kinja'd!!! Frank Grimes > f86sabre
08/20/2015 at 00:08

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Where did you find them? I would like to read them


Kinja'd!!! f86sabre > Frank Grimes
08/20/2015 at 06:17

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There was a Smithsonian reprint about 10 years ago. I would check eBay or Amazon. It is a two volume set. It is a bit dry as early 20th century writing can be, but it is very detailed. Some good pictures as well.


Kinja'd!!! f86sabre > ttyymmnn
08/20/2015 at 06:27

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They studied everyone, but quickly discarded those who were not thorough, and focused on the ones who were systematic in their approach. Lilienthal was a huge influence but they corresponded a good bit with Langley as well. They pretty quickly found that the data out there was mostly junk so they decided to develop their own data. That lead to the gliders, wind tunnels and other repeatable imperial tests they developed. When they realized that they were really ahead of everyone is when they started to be secretive.

With the gliders they realized that the secret of flight wasn’t so much in getting aloft, but being able to control the aircraft once aloft. Remember that they patented the flight control system and not the aircraft.


Kinja'd!!! ttyymmnn > f86sabre
08/20/2015 at 08:28

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Remember that they patented the flight control system and not the aircraft.

I don’t think I knew that. Thanks.