Biography of Wilbur Wright
Wilbur Wright is a pioneer of American aircraft construction, who together with his brother Orville created the world’s first aircraft.
Childhood and youth
Wilbur Wright was one of seven children from Milton Wright, the bishop, and his wife, Susan Catherine Koerner. It was of mixed origin; some of his brothers and sisters died in infancy. One day my father gave them a toy helicopter, made of paper, bamboo and cork, with his brother. Wilbur and Orville played with the helicopter until it broke, and after its breakdown they built a new helicopter on their own.
In his studies, Wilbur was also very motivated to gain knowledge, had excellent academic performance at school, and was also a good athlete. He really wanted to go to Yale University to become a teacher, he was an insatiable reader and he himself liked to write.
During the game of hockey, he suffered an accident that had a physical and mental impact on him, resulting in Wilbur refused many of
Career
Wilbur and Orville founded the printing business in 1889. Orville was the publisher, and Wilbur was the editor of the weekly newspaper West Side News. The brothers independently designed the printing press. Making the issue of the newspaper daily, the brothers did not receive the desired income and switched to printing commercial products.
In 1892, because of the general fashion for bicycles, which spread throughout the country, the brothers opened a bicycle shop and workshop “Wright Cycle Company”.
The growing interest of the brothers in aeronautics was cultivated by the adventures of Otto Lilienthal, a German aviator who successfully completed several flights. The death of Lilienthal during one of the flights on the glider in 1896 strongly influenced Wilbur, and he decided to find the best way to fly.
Wilbur and Orville began their experiments after studying the works of other enthusiasts in aeronautics: Octave Chanut, Sir George Cayley, Lilienthal
The brothers designed three gliders from 1900 to 1902. The first glider production brothers could go up in flight with the pilot. In the next two gliders they made edits. So, the third of their glider had a tail steering wheel and was responsible for the course stability of the glider.
In 1903, the brothers built Flyer – the world’s first aircraft with an internal combustion engine. It was the first apparatus heavier than air, capable of flying. Flyer was built according to the drawings of the third glider.
Basic work
Experiments of brothers in the construction of aircraft with engines took real shape after the construction of gliders in the number of three pieces from 1900 to 1902. The first glider could go up in flight with the pilot. The second glider was identical to the first glider in everything, except for a larger wingspan. It produced from 500 to 1000 free flights. The second glider was undoubtedly better than the first, but still could not demonstrate the expected lift.
In 1902, the brothers built their third glider, which they provided with a system of maintaining the stability of the road due to the tail of the rudder. Later, in the steering wheel, improvements were made, thanks to which the steering wheel became manageable.
This glider has made up to 1000 flights.
In 1903, the brothers built a lethal device heavier than air with an internal combustion engine, calling it Flyer. Flyer was built according to the drawings of the airframe model from 1902. To create a glider, giant spruce was used, and the wings had a profile of 1/20. The engine for the Flyer was created by Charlie Taylor, a mechanic working with Wrights.
Awards and achievements
Wilbur and Orville were awarded the “Medal of Honor” in 1909, after they returned from a successful demonstration trip through Europe. They were also awarded the honorary gold medals of Ohio State and the city of Dayton.
Wilbur, Orville and their sister Catherine were awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor in 1909 for their successful air shows in 1908 and 1909.
Personal life and heritage
Wilbur was very close to his father, brother and sister. He did not marry and he had no children. Wilbur died of typhoid fever in 1912 at the age of 45 years.
Interesting Facts
Initially, the Smithsonian Institution refused to recognize the fact of designing a controlled plane with an engine by the Wright brothers.
Wilbur was the most beloved child of all the children in the family.
None of the Wright brothers’ gliders was saved, but later copies were built.
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