Wilbur Wright's (of the Wright brothers) letter to the Smithsonian
3 years before the Wright brothers conducted the first controlled human flight
Pic credit: Biography.com
This is a letter that virtually flies. Seems incredible that just 3 years before the Wright brothers conducted the first controlled human flight in the history of aviation, they were just two bicycle shop mechanics who dreamt of flying and were hell bent on finding a way to do just that. Obviously in those days, there was no internet and google search, so they reached out to the Smithsonian to gather information and research papers done by others on the possibility of human flight. Goes to show that when you have belief in something you can dream of flying aeroplanes while building bicycles. Quite a leap of faith one would think. And the brothers practised the entire mechanics of the first aeroplane right down at their bicycle shop.
Wilbur Wright was just 32 when he wrote this letter and by 35, he along with Orville Wright had successfully invented the first modern aeroplane.
Wilbur Wright to the Smithsonian Institution, 30 May 1899
“Dear Sirs:
I have been interested in the problem of mechanical and human flight ever since as a boy I constructed a number of boats of various sizes after the style of Cayley’s and Pénaud’s machines. My observations since have only convinced me more firmly that human flight is possible and practicable. It is only a question of knowledge and skill just as in all acrobatic feats. Birds are the most perfectly trained gymnasts in the world and are specially well fitted for their work, and it may be that man will never equal them, but no one who has watched a bird chasing an insect or another bird can doubt that feats are performed which require three or four times the effort required in ordinary flight. I believe that simple flight at least is possible to man and that the experiments and investigations of a large number of independent workers will result in the accumulation of information and knowledge and skill which will finally lead to accomplished flight . . .
I am an enthusiast, but not a crank in the sense that I have some pet theories as to the proper construction of a flying machine. I wish to avail myself of all that is already known and then if possible add my mite to help on the future workers who will attain final success. I do not know the terms on which you send out your publications but if you will inform me of the cost I will remit the price”
Your’s truly
Wilbur Wright
Source
Book: Written in History - Letters that changed the world by Simon Sebag Montefiore
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