The last flight was made with operator only on board. After a flight of 7 minutes and 29 seconds, while busied in making a turn, the operator inadvertently moved the fore-and-aft controlling lever. The machine plunged into the ground, while traveling with the wind, at a speed of approximately 55 miles an hour. The anemometer showed a distance of a little over 8 kilometers (5 miles).
The frame supporting the front rudder was broken; the central section of the upper main bearing surface was broken and torn; but beyond this, the main surfaces and rudders received but slight damage. The motor, radiators, and machinery came through uninjured. Repairs could have been made in a week's time, but the time allowed for these experiments having elapsed, we were compelled to close experiments for the present.
These flights were witnessed by the men of the Kill Devil life-saving station, to whom we were indebted for much assistance, by a number of newspaper men, and by some other persons who were hunting and fishing in the vicinity.
The machine showed a speed of nearly 41 miles an hour with two men on board, and a little over 44 miles with one man. The control was very satisfactory in winds of 15 to 20 miles an hour, and there was not a distinguishable difference in control when traveling with, against, or across the wind.
— Orville and Wilbur Wright.
Read more about how Scientific American helped get the "aeroplane" off the ground.
This story was originally printed with the title, "The Wright Perspective".
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2 Comments
Add Comment100 years later & STILL no flying cars. Sigh...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSorry, boys. Monsanto has patented your genes and the genes of flighted birds. You are to cease and desist with any acts that resemble yourselves achieving lift or acting out of the ordinary.
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