Wright Brothers
Orville and Wilbur Wright began by designing and building series of gliders; No. 3 began with twin-fixed rudders, was modified to have twin steerable rudders, and then single steerable rudder. Completed first powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer, in 1903 in which, on 17 Dec 1903, they became first humans to fly a heavier-than-air craft that could (1) take off under its own power, (2) fly under the operator's control, and (3) land at a point not lower than the take-off point. Subsequently designed two more Flyers, 1904-1905, and a hydroplane boat, 1907.
During these five years [1903–1908] enormous progress in flying was made by other men, while discussions about the mysterious Wrights raged over the world. But the brothers refused to make flights for the public to see; they would not enter competitions, nor publihs details about the construction of their machine. [...]
The chief reason for believing their claims in this period was the word of Octave Chanute, foremost American authority, that he had actually seen them fly, and that he believed their assertions to be completely truthful.[1]
In 1905 the Wrights offered to sell airplanes to the U.S. Army, which turned them down. They subsequently marketed airplanes to European powers, at first with no success. Finally the Wrights reached a deal with the U.S. after winning the bid to fulfill Signal Corps Specification Number 486.[2]
One of the earliest endorsements of the Wright brothers came from the Aero Club of America which issued a statement in 1906 congratulating them "on their great achievement in devising, constructing, operating a successful man-carrying dynamic flying machine."[3]
In 1908, the brothers began marketing their aircraft under the name Wright & Co. and in early 1909, they formally organized The Wright Co. to manufacture aircraft.
Also in 1908 Wilbur publicly demonstrated a Wright airplane in France; soon after, Orville demonstrated the Wright Military Flyer at Fort Myer, Virginia. In November, the Aéro-Club de France held a banquet in their honor.
By 1909, if not earlier, we have their occupations given as per se Industrialists.[4]
The brothers built another glider in 1911.
City: Dayton, OH
Biographical info
The brothers first went into business together as newspaper editors, founding the West Side Press of Dayton in 1889. They later also published The Evening Item and Snapshots.[5].
The Wrights read Marey's Animal Magnetism in the library of their father, a bishop.[6]. They subsequently wrote to the Smithsonian in 1899 and received a box of useful literature.
Companies
International affiliates
Publications
- "The Wright Brothers' Aëroplane"; The Century Magazine Vol. LXXVI, No. 5; September, 1908; pp. 642–650.
Patents whose inventor or applicant is Wilbur Wright
- Patent US-1903-821393 (English title: Flying-Machine, Filing date: 1903-03-23)
- Patent GB-1904-6732 (Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-19)
- Patent FR-1904-342188 (English title: Aeronautic machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-22)
- Patent DE-1904-173378 (English title: Aircraft with horizontal headrests and vertical side rudder, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-23)
- Patent AT-1904-23174 (English title: Flying machine, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-23)
- Patent IT-1905-75941 (English title: Aircraft)
- Patent FR-1907-384124 (English title: Aeronautic machines, Filing date: 1907-11-18)
- Patent FR-1908-384125 (English title: Aeronautic machines, Filing date: 1907-11-18)
- Patent AT-1908-36566 (English title: Drachenflieger)
- Patent US-1908-1122348 (English title: Flying machine, Filing date: 1908-02-17)
- Patent US-1911-987662 (English title: Flying machine, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1908-02-17)
- Patent HU-1908-44407 (English title: Airplane, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1908-02-22)
- Patent HU-1908-44408 (English title: Airplane; Biplane, Filing date: 1908-02-22)
- Patent US-1909-908929 (English title: Mechanism for flexing the rudder of a flying-machine, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1908-07-15)
- Patent GB-1908-24076 (English title: Flying Machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent GB-1904-6732 • Patent FR-1907-11-18, Filing date: 1908-11-10)
- Patent GB-1908-24077 (English title: Wingtip rudders, Supplementary to patent: Patent FR-1907-11-18, Filing date: 1908-11-10)
- Patent ES-1908-44332 (English title: Improvements in machines for aerostation, Filing date: 1908-11-11)
- Patent ES-1908-44333 (English title: Improvements in machines for aerostation, Filing date: 1908-11-11)
- Patent GB-1909-2913 (English title: Automatic stabilization device for flying machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1908-Feb-10, Filing date: 1909-02-06)
- Patent ES-1909-44860 (English title: Improvements in flying machines, Filing date: 1909-02-06)
- Patent FR-1909-401905 (English title: Improvements to flying machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1908-02-10, Filing date: 1909-02-08)
- Patent HU-1909-47943 (English title: Airplane, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1909-02-09)
- Patent GB-1909-16068 (English title: Mechanism for actuating rudders or controlling planes of aeronautical machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1908-07-15, Filing date: 1909-07-09)
- Patent HU-1909-50782 (English title: "Governor's equipment for aircraft" (airplane rudder ?), Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1908-07-17 Wright, Filing date: 1909-07-10)
- Patent ES-1909-45940 (English title: Perfected mechanism which serves to give flexion or camber to the rudder of a flying machine, or something else in this style, Filing date: 1909-07-13)
- Patent DE-1909-240782 (English title: Aircraft control in which the leading edge and trailing edge are adjustable against the wind at different angles, Filing date: 1909-07-15)
Patents whose inventor or applicant is Orville Wright
- Patent US-1903-821393 (English title: Flying-Machine, Filing date: 1903-03-23)
- Patent GB-1904-6732 (Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-19)
- Patent FR-1904-342188 (English title: Aeronautic machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-22)
- Patent DE-1904-173378 (English title: Aircraft with horizontal headrests and vertical side rudder, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-23)
- Patent AT-1904-23174 (English title: Flying machine, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1904-03-23)
- Patent IT-1905-75941 (English title: Aircraft)
- Patent FR-1907-384124 (English title: Aeronautic machines, Filing date: 1907-11-18)
- Patent FR-1908-384125 (English title: Aeronautic machines, Filing date: 1907-11-18)
- Patent AT-1908-36566 (English title: Drachenflieger)
- Patent US-1913-1075533 (Filing date: 1908-02-10)
- Patent US-1908-1122348 (English title: Flying machine, Filing date: 1908-02-17)
- Patent US-1911-987662 (English title: Flying machine, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1908-02-17)
- Patent HU-1908-44407 (English title: Airplane, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1908-02-22)
- Patent HU-1908-44408 (English title: Airplane; Biplane, Filing date: 1908-02-22)
- Patent US-1909-908929 (English title: Mechanism for flexing the rudder of a flying-machine, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1908-07-15)
- Patent GB-1908-24076 (English title: Flying Machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent GB-1904-6732 • Patent FR-1907-11-18, Filing date: 1908-11-10)
- Patent GB-1908-24077 (English title: Wingtip rudders, Supplementary to patent: Patent FR-1907-11-18, Filing date: 1908-11-10)
- Patent ES-1908-44332 (English title: Improvements in machines for aerostation, Filing date: 1908-11-11)
- Patent ES-1908-44333 (English title: Improvements in machines for aerostation, Filing date: 1908-11-11)
- Patent DE-1908-259339 (English title: Flugzeug mit verwindbaren, durch senkrechte Stützen gelenkig verbundenen Tragflächenrahmen, Supplementary to patent: Patent DE-1904-173378, Filing date: 1908-11-13)
- Patent DE-1908-259811 (Supplementary to patent: Patent DE-1904-173378, Filing date: 1908-11-13)
- Patent DE-1908-260050 (Supplementary to patent: Patent DE-1904-173378, Filing date: 1908-11-13)
- Patent GB-1909-2913 (English title: Automatic stabilization device for flying machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1908-Feb-10, Filing date: 1909-02-06)
- Patent ES-1909-44860 (English title: Improvements in flying machines, Filing date: 1909-02-06)
- Patent HU-1909-47943 (English title: Airplane, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1903-821393, Filing date: 1909-02-09)
- Patent GB-1909-16068 (English title: Mechanism for actuating rudders or controlling planes of aeronautical machines, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1908-07-15, Filing date: 1909-07-09)
- Patent HU-1909-50782 (English title: "Governor's equipment for aircraft" (airplane rudder ?), Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1908-07-17 Wright, Filing date: 1909-07-10)
- Patent ES-1909-45940 (English title: Perfected mechanism which serves to give flexion or camber to the rudder of a flying machine, or something else in this style, Filing date: 1909-07-13)
- Patent DE-1909-240782 (English title: Aircraft control in which the leading edge and trailing edge are adjustable against the wind at different angles, Filing date: 1909-07-15)
Letters sent by Wilbur Wright
- Wilbur Wright to "memo"
- Wilbur Wright to "notebook A"
- Wilbur Wright to diary 574
- Wilbur Wright to diary 576
- Wilbur Wright to diary 577
- Wilbur Wright to diary 585
- Wilbur Wright to diary 592
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 1047
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 1094
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 1155
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 630
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 715
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 754
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 776
- Wilbur Wright to George A Spratt 990
- Wilbur Wright to Milton Wright 267
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 1038
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 1047
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 1065
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 1076
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 1091
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 1131
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 134
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 153
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 223
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 321
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 331
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 336
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 338
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 444
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 498
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 503
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 536
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 548
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 551
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 553
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 556
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 573
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 577
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 600
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 607
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 611
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 615
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 619
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 625
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 635
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 645
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 655
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 657
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 663
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 672
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 684
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 687
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 692
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 701
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 715
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 723
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 736
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 741
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 750
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 769
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 773
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 781
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 787
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 8-Nov-1906
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 801
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 813
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 833
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 867
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 880
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 884
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 914
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 921
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 929
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 939
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 943
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 957
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 976
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 979
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 986
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 995
- Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute 997
- Wilbur Wright to Orville Wright 15-Aug-1908
- Wilbur Wright to publication 627
- Wilbur Wright to Secretary, Smithsonian Institution 14-Jun-1899
- Wilbur Wright to Smithsonian Institution 30-May-1899
- Wilbur Wright to US Weather Bureau's Chief 9-Dec-1899
- Wilbur Wright to US Weather Bureau's Instrument Division 27-Nov-1899
Letters sent by Orville Wright
- Orville Wright to 6
- Orville Wright to Agnes Lilienthal 4354
- Orville Wright to Charles A. Moran 11-May-1917
- Orville Wright to diary 1003
- Orville Wright to diary 1021
- Orville Wright to diary 1024
- Orville Wright to diary 1028
- Orville Wright to diary 968
- Orville Wright to diary 970
- Orville Wright to diary 977
- Orville Wright to diary 980
- Orville Wright to diary 981
- Orville Wright to diary 987
- Orville Wright to diary 989
- Orville Wright to diary 991
- Orville Wright to diary 994
- Orville Wright to diary 996
- Orville Wright to diary 998
- Orville Wright to Elisha N. Fales 24-Oct-1916
- Orville Wright to Glenn L. Martin 19-May-1917
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 10-Oct-1913
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 13-Apr-1914
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 16-July-1913
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 17-Oct-1912
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 19-Nov-1913
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 2-Mar-1914
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 20-Mar-1914
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 22-Apr-1913
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 23-Jul-1912
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 27-Oct-1914
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 31-Aug-1912
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 31-Jan-1913
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 4-Aug-1913
- Orville Wright to Griffith Brewer 9-May-1914
- Orville Wright to Katharine Wright 14-Oct-1900
- Orville Wright to Katharine Wright 23-Oct-1902
- Orville Wright to Katharine Wright 292
- Orville Wright to Katharine Wright 575
- Orville Wright to Patrick Alexander 17-Nov-1905
- Orville Wright to publication 5
- Orville Wright to Sterling P. Fergusson 24-Jun-1916
Letters received by Wilbur Wright
- Cleveland Abbe to Wilbur Wright 26-Sep-1903
- Cleveland Abbe to Wilbur Wright 31-Dec-1903
- Cleveland Abbe to Wilbur Wright 7-Jan-1904
- Cleveland Abbe to Wilbur Wright 8-Mar-1908
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1002
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1020
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1040
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1050
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1071
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1074
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1084
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1086
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1094
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 1162
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 138
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 227
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 23 Jan 1910
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 328
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 334
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 337
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 451
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 501
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 539
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 546
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 550
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 551
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 555
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 566
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 576
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 591
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 597
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 601
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 607
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 614
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 617
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 622
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 624
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 634
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 638
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 649
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 651
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 659
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 664
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 666
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 680
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 686
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 688
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 697
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 711
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 719
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 732
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 739
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 744
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 768
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 775
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 781
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 794
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 807
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 821
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 856
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 864
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 878
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 881
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 914
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 929
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 932
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 941
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 952
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 969
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 980
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 988
- Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright 993
Letters received by Orville Wright
- Agnes Lilienthal to Orville Wright 4376
- Griffith Brewer to Orville Wright 11-Jan-1913
- Griffith Brewer to Orville Wright 13-Feb-1914
- Griffith Brewer to Orville Wright 18-Jan-1913
- Griffith Brewer to Orville Wright 24-Apr-1914
- Griffith Brewer to Orville Wright 31-Mar-1914
- Griffith Brewer to Orville Wright 9-Aug-1913
- Gustav Lilienthal to Orville Wright 3531
- Gustav Lilienthal to Orville Wright 3556
- Wilbur Wright to Orville Wright 15-Aug-1908
Letters received by Wright Brothers
References
- ↑ Freudenthal, 1949, Flight into history, p. vii.
- ↑ Wohl, 1994, Passion for Wings, pp. 15–21.
- ↑ Robie, 1993, p. 16.
- ↑ Patent HU-1908-44407
- ↑ Sullivan, 1927, Our Times, p. 570.
- ↑ Sullivan, 1927, Our Times, p. 570.
Sources
- SD309-310;
Links
- "Wright Brothers and Their Flyer", Flight, 2 October 1909, p. 613. Mentions circling the Statue of Liberty; lawsuit activity; and a new 700-acre Wright aerodrome at Tippecanoe, Ohio, near Springfield.
Names | Orville Wright; Wilbur Wright |
---|---|
Birth date | |
Death date | |
Countries | US |
Locations | Dayton, OH |
Occupations | bicycle mechanic, inventor, shop owner |
Tech areas | Wings, Airplane, Propellers, Wind tunnel |
Affiliations | Wright Cycle Co., Wright Company |
Wikidata id | Q35820 |