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| Original photo of Wright B Flyer, likely 1910-1912 period. |
Greetings from Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation, home of the
Wright Brothers. One intent of this site is to sift through the history
of the lives and accomplishments of Wilbur and Orville Wright and the
Wright family, and separate the truth from the error.
Another intent of the site is to provide a defense for the Wright Brother's history against those that would attempt to re-write that history. Despite what others may say,
Photo's used in the posts of Wright items are either from my personal collection, or if from another source are noted as such. Photos of Wright sites are those I have taken myself.
Another intent of the site is to provide a defense for the Wright Brother's history against those that would attempt to re-write that history. Despite what others may say,
- The Wright's were the first to fly.
- Wilbur and Orville were equal partners. They each made their contributions, and without both, they would not have solved the flight issue.
- Orville Wright was an honorable man with genuine lifelong friends.
- Katharine Wright provided emotional and social support, but no financial or scientific support to her brothers.
- Their father Milton Wright was a loving father, and not the overbearing authoritarian sometimes portrayed by historians.
- Their eldest brother Reuchlin was not estranged from the family and especially not from his own father.
Photo's used in the posts of Wright items are either from my personal collection, or if from another source are noted as such. Photos of Wright sites are those I have taken myself.
A major advantage of this blog format, is that if I make an error in the presentation of information, readers can comment, and corrections can then be made. I really would appreciate any comments.
The topics covered may already be well known, but I'll attempt to present the information in another way rather than repeat what has already been well documented. Or the very least, provide some sources to reference on the subject.
As I come across additional information applicable to a specific post, I'll add to the post, so if interested, please reload the post for the latest version.
The 60+ posts have been written over a period of ten years or so, but I have continued to revise and add information to many of them. A post with the original date of 2015 for example, may have been revised as recently as today. I've not written many new posts this year 2024, but I have been adding information to my existing posts. I have much left to research, and ideas for additional posts, but my work schedule and helping my Mom towards Heaven as she is currently under Hospice care, limits me. I think of Wilbur's comments that it was due to specific circumstances that he and Orville were able to solve the flight problems- illness, or business obligations, or any other life challenges could have stopped them.
The 60+ posts have been written over a period of ten years or so, but I have continued to revise and add information to many of them. A post with the original date of 2015 for example, may have been revised as recently as today. I've not written many new posts this year 2024, but I have been adding information to my existing posts. I have much left to research, and ideas for additional posts, but my work schedule and helping my Mom towards Heaven as she is currently under Hospice care, limits me. I think of Wilbur's comments that it was due to specific circumstances that he and Orville were able to solve the flight problems- illness, or business obligations, or any other life challenges could have stopped them.
In Fred Kelly's "Miracle at Kitty Hawk", 1951, Kelly documents Wilbur Wright's letter to Octave Chanute, October 28, 1906-
"I am not certain that your method of estimating probabilities is a sound one. Do you not insist too strongly upon the single point of mental ability? To me it seems that a thousand other factors, each rather insignificant in itself, in the aggregate influence the event ten times more than mere mental ability or inventiveness. The world does not contain greater men than Maxim, Bell, Edison, Langley, Lilienthal & Chanute. We are not so foolish as to base our belief, (that an independent solution of the flying problem is not imminent,) upon any supposed superiority to these men and to all those who will hereafter take up the problem. If the wheels of time could be turned back six years, it is not at all probable that we would do again what we have done. The one thing that impresses me as remarkable is the shortness of time within which our work was done. It was due to peculiar combinations of circumstances which might never occur again. How do you explain the lapse of more than 50 years between Newcomen and Watt? Was the world wanting in smart men during those years? Surely not! The world was full of Watts, but a thousand and one trifles kept them from undertaking and completing the task...We look upon the present question in an impersonal way. It is not chiefly a question of relative ability, but of mathematical probabilities."
"I am not certain that your method of estimating probabilities is a sound one. Do you not insist too strongly upon the single point of mental ability? To me it seems that a thousand other factors, each rather insignificant in itself, in the aggregate influence the event ten times more than mere mental ability or inventiveness. The world does not contain greater men than Maxim, Bell, Edison, Langley, Lilienthal & Chanute. We are not so foolish as to base our belief, (that an independent solution of the flying problem is not imminent,) upon any supposed superiority to these men and to all those who will hereafter take up the problem. If the wheels of time could be turned back six years, it is not at all probable that we would do again what we have done. The one thing that impresses me as remarkable is the shortness of time within which our work was done. It was due to peculiar combinations of circumstances which might never occur again. How do you explain the lapse of more than 50 years between Newcomen and Watt? Was the world wanting in smart men during those years? Surely not! The world was full of Watts, but a thousand and one trifles kept them from undertaking and completing the task...We look upon the present question in an impersonal way. It is not chiefly a question of relative ability, but of mathematical probabilities."
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