Wright Brothers’ Dream Was More than a ‘Flight of Fancy’

Newswise — Although their main competitor, Samuel P. Langley of the Smithsonian Institution was well funded by the government to develop the first powered aircraft, the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered and controlled flight 100 years ago because they were innovators and risk takers, says Temple mechanical engineering professor Jim S. Chen. "They were just two bicycle mechanics living in Dayton, Ohio, but they had big dreams," says Chen, an expert in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics. Chen says that Orville and Wilbur Wright sought the help of experts, studied a lot of literature on flying, had patience and persistence, and practiced a lot with gliding. "But their real success came because they were able to integrate and improve several technologies, including engines that were developed in the 19th century; propellers that were used for ship design; and three-axis control surfaces including elevators, rudders, and curved/twisted wings that they developed through numerous glider flights and wind tunnel testing. The three-axis control has evolved over the years, but the concept is still adopted in modern flying machines," he says.