The Wright Brothers

Historically High

If Howard Hughes is the Father of Modern Aviation. The Wright Brothers are the Granddaddies of Human Flight. Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright developed an obsession with the defiance of gravity from a young age, when their father brought home a toy helicopter. As they grew up they decided to take a run at the newly exploded bicycle boom, giving them a source of funding for their real passion. Flight, and not just run down the side of a hill with a glider and coast for a couple hundred feet flight, that had been done before, but powered, controlled, sustainable flight. Basically what we think of when someone mentions flight now. What followed over the next few years involved the Wrights searching the United States for the perfect location, consistent wind, more forgiving land area (for the inevitable falls back to earth that would occur). The boys from Ohio would make bicycles during spring and summer, and then it was off to Kitty Hawk, SC for the fall and winter to test their theories and that years newest version of their Wright Flyer. This went on and on for years until they cleared each hurdle, controlled gliding, how to power this new creation, steering, and eventually bringing it all together to show humanity that man was meant to sore above the earth. Tune in to hear the whole story.

Historically High is sponsored by Flintt's Mouth Watering Mints, purveyors of delicious, drymouth destroying little miracles. Get yours with 15% off by using code HISTORICALLYHIGHER at www.Flintts.com

Support the show