Discovering Our Past: The American Journey to World War I

"The Airplane"

Introduction
In this chapter you learned about turn-of-the-century America, an era of inventions and capitalism that had major ramifications for life today. The Wright brothers' airplane is among the most important scientific advancements of that time, and it didn't come easily. Orville and Wilbur Wright worked tirelessly for years to develop the airplane prototype, and they resorted to teaching themselves aeronautical science and building their own propellers and engines when no one else would help them. Not to mention that many of their planes crashed, meaning they had to rebuild them or start again entirely from scratch! Visit the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company to learn the trials and tribulations associated with the brothers' exploration of the laws of flight.

Destination Title: Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company

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Directions
Begin at the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company.

• Scroll down and click on the link called "The Wright Story."
• Read through this page and look at the photographs that border it.
• Once you have read this material, click on the link called "Inventing the Airplane." Then select "Eyes on the Skies" from the left menu and browse through this section to read more about the brothers' discovery process.

1			Where did the Wright Brothers conduct most of their flight experiments?
2			What did Wilbur Wright learn about flying from watching buzzards?
3			Which of the Wright brothers' many test planes is known as the world's first practical airplane?
4			Why were aircraft from before the Wright brothers' time so dangerous?
5			The Wright brothers created seven different aircrafts on their way to developing a controllable, engine-powered plane. In a brief essay, select one of these models and evaluate how it worked and didn't work in flight. If it didn't work, what did that failure contribute to the Wright brothers' understanding of airplane science?