The Wright brothers spent summer and fall seasons on the beaches of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina conducting the impossible feat of a man flying. From 1900 to 1903 they endured troubles, defeat, and success all in the name of innovation. The brothers established camp on the wild terrain of costal North Carolina where, with the help of others they built, tested, and improved their flying machines.
In the year 1900, Wilbur, Orville, and Bill Tate built and tested the first glider outside the Kitty Hawk lifesaving station. These tests were unmanned kite experiments just to observe how the glider interacted with the wind and test the function of the rudder. Very few manned gliding attempts were performed during this year. Wilbur attempted the first test, lying prone on the lower wing, while Orville and Bill Tate held the gilder by two strings. The men ran along in the sand lifting the glider in the wind like a kite. At a height of eight feet and no control over the craft, Wilbur began to scream, “Let me down!” (Tobin, 2003). The final trials were performed on the tallest dune in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hill. Wilbur performed the first free glides down the sandy dune, going against his fears and disregarding warnings by experts in the field of aeronautics. The attempts were a success in establishing control of the craft and gliding a distance of 300 to 400 feet. The brothers left the glider on the beach and returned to Ohio (Kirk, 1995).
The season of 1901 was among the most difficult and perplexing. Courtesy of Chanute, the Wright brothers were accompanied and assisted by glider researchers George Spratt and Edward Huffaker, (Kirk, 1995). Wilbur was determined to achieve a “manned kiting” experience, but soon discovered that this approach would not result in stability and leveled course (Kirk, 1995). The problems discovered during the early glides were not enough lift from the wings, uncontrollable and unpredictable nature, and a “high degree of drift which reduced the gliders speed” (Tobin, 2003, p. 111). Adjustments were made to the machine, resulting in great control and gliding around 300 feet. The Wright brothers felt confident to test their wing warping concept for the first time. However, the results conflicted their theory and resulted in another disappointment. The test also caused two crashes, inflicting injury on Wilbur (Tobin, 2003). Overall, the flights of 1901 were better than the previous years but the brothers were not pleased with the unpredictable nature of the craft. It contradicted the data of their predecessors, which Wilbur and Orville based their knowledge and machine construction. This drove the brothers to disregard all “empirical evidence” of the former experts, and solely relying on their two years of field experience and establish their own calculations (Wescott & Degen, 1983).
The Wright brothers’ third season in Kitty Hawk was filled with firsts and success. 1902 model was abundant in new additions, and the first operated by Orville Wright. Though he was not as proficient as Wilbur and crashed the craft, Orville persisted throughout the season. Both brothers performed glides sailing over 600 feet. Orville wrote a letter to their sister,
"We have gained considerable proficiency in the handling of the machine now, so that we are able to take it out in any kind of weather… We now hold all the records! The longest machine…The longest glide (American), the longest time in the air, the smallest angle of descent, and the highest winds!!!" (Kirk, 1995, p. 127).
"We have gained considerable proficiency in the handling of the machine now, so that we are able to take it out in any kind of weather… We now hold all the records! The longest machine…The longest glide (American), the longest time in the air, the smallest angle of descent, and the highest winds!!!" (Kirk, 1995, p. 127).
They had mastered the elements, measurements, and control of the gliders. The pursuit of powered air travel and making history were within their grasp.