The Wright Flyers 1899–1916
The kites, gliders, and aircraft that launched the “Air Age”
by Richard P. Hallion
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Pub Date 24 Dec 2019 | Archive Date 14 Jan 2020
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Description
An authoritative new history and analysis of the Wright Brothers' pioneering aircraft, from their triumph in 1903, through their string of achievements in the next decade, to their eclipse in the 1910s.
Orville and Wilbur Wright, two bicycle-making brothers from Dayton, Ohio, secured their place as the most famous names in aviation history when, on December 17, 1903, they made the first powered, controlled, and sustained heavier-than-air flight. But their success over the cold and windswept Carolina dunes that day has overshadowed their many other accomplishments before and after that historic flight. The Wrights' progression from theory to analysis to ground-testing components and wing shapes, and to then flight-testing kites, gliders, and their first powered aeroplane, marked the world's first successful “X-Plane” research and development program. They established a template all subsequent aircraft have followed, one still relevant in the era of hypersonic flight and drone research.
This book traces the Wright Brothers' story, from their first success on that cold December day throughout their glory years to their eventual eclipse by other aviators. It explores in detail the process that lead them to their pioneering craft and their many subsequent achievements over the following years, and highlights their enduring importance in the age of modern flight.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781472837776 |
| PRICE | US$22.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 80 |
Featured Reviews
Dee A, Reviewer
Most of us know of the Wright Brothers and their historic flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. I was also among those who had no clue what happened next to Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright Flyers: 1899-1916 rectified that situation.
Though this is a short book, it is packed with facts and interesting historical footnotes. There are many records and accomplishments the brothers achieved during the seventeen years described covered in the book, firmly cementing them as inventors that greatly influenced the aeronautical industry. Including the dimensions and materials used to build their planes was a welcome addition, something you don’t normally find. There were also plenty of pictures to aid the descriptions. When one considers that many of the planes were scrapped, pictures represent all we have left of what the Wright Brothers created. I felt the Further Reading section included more than enough suggestions to make even the most voracious reader happy.
I never realized how dangerous it was for these pioneers of the sky, as many of them risked their lives to contribute to this fledging science and some of them lost the gamble and paid with the ultimate sacrifice. Author Richard P. Hallion possesses a succinct style of writing, and the book flows quickly from chapter to chapter. I felt the sidebar stories were important, though some of them included much of the same facts already related in the body of the story. Regardless, this is a solid effort and a great place to start if your knowledge of the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments needs to be increased. Four stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Osprey Publishing for an advance electronic copy of this book.
