Dec 11 CHASA Flight Fact:
In 1885, Wilbur Wright was to attend Yale; however, while playing a game called "shinny", he suffered a severe facial injury that kept him from entering the university. Wilbur instead took care of his ill mother for the next several years
Dec 12 CHASA Flight Fact:
In 1892, the Wright brothers became bicycle manufacturers to capitalize on the bicycle "craze" sweeping the nation. Their company produced two models - the "Van Cleve" and the "Wright Flyer".
Dec 15 CHASA Flight Fact:
The Wright brothers were born and raised in Ohio, but they chose to do their work on powered flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This was not a random selection; the Wright brothers had looked for a place with farily constant wind and Kitty Hawk fit the bill perfectly!
Dec 16 CHASA Flight Fact:
After extensive air tunnel tests on the wing shapes for their biplane, the Wright brothers started looking for a motor. They could not find one to buy, so an employee in the bicycle shop made the first airplane engine. The engine had only twelve horsepower - but it was enough power to lift the plane and a man for the first flight!
Dec 17 CHASA Flight Fact:
100 years ago - on December 17, 1903 - at 10:35 in the morning, Orville got on the Kitty Hawk Flyer for an attempt at flight. Because of the gusty wind and difficult flight controls, Orville's flight was like a roller coaster ride. This first flight covered 120 feet in about 12 seconds. Three more flights were made that same day - none lasting over one minute! Why was this so important? Orville had just made the first successful and controlled powered flight in history - which would lead to today's modern aircraft. The rough landings damaged the Wright brothers' plane and while in the hangar for repaires, a sudden gust of wind demolished the craft. There was nothing left to do but go home and start to build another flyer.
Dec 18 CHASA Flight Fact:
(Question will be announced and posted outside room 213)
Imagine 100 years ago - it's the day after the Wright brothers succeed where the top scientists of the day failed. For the first time ever, man has flown in a powered - heavier than air - craft. And what do you think the newspaper headlines read on Dec 18, 1903? In most newspapers there was nothing about the Wright brothers. Even by January 2, 1904, the story of their success had only made it to page ten of a major newspaper - and even then, most of the facts were wrong!! I hope you do a better job of reporting the facts. |