Thanks to vaskypilot and the many others who have taken the time to post history and archaeology topics these last few months!
Posted on 12/17/2024 12:27:02 PM PST by vaskypilot
December 17, 1903
Three days later, they were ready for the second attempt. The 27-mph wind was harder than they would have liked, since their predicted cruising speed was only 30-35 mph. The headwind would slow their groundspeed to a crawl, but they proceeded anyway. With a sheet, they signaled the volunteers from the nearby lifesaving station that they were about to try again. Now it was Orville's turn.
Remembering Wilbur's experience, he positioned himself and tested the controls. The stick that moved the horizontal elevator-controlled climb and descent. The cradle that he swung with his hips warped the wings and swung the vertical tails, which in combination turned the machine. A lever controlled the gas flow and airspeed recorder. The controls were simple and few, but Orville knew it would take all his finesse to handle the new and heavier aircraft.
At 10:35, he released the restraining wire. The flyer moved down the rail as Wilbur steadied the wings. Just as Orville left the ground, John Daniels from the lifesaving station snapped the shutter on a preset camera, capturing the historic image of the airborne aircraft with Wilbur running alongside. Again, the flyer was unruly, pitching up and down as Orville overcompensated with the controls. But he kept it aloft until it hit the sand about 120 feet from the rail. Into the 27-mph wind, the groundspeed had been 6.8 mph, for a total airspeed of 34 mph. The brothers took turns flying three more times that day, getting a feel for the controls and increasing their distance with each flight. Wilbur's second flight - the fourth and last of the day – was an impressive 852 feet in 59 seconds.
(Excerpt) Read more at nps.gov ...
My wife and I went to Kitty Hawk in April 2023. Well worth seeing.
Ahem… I think you mean Wright Siblings Day
This was before regulations required planes to have spare tampons.
“The headwind would slow their groundspeed to a crawl, but they proceeded anyway.”
Why didn’t they just go the other way?
Better to land and take off in a headwind. Even today airports place runways based on prevailing winds. The active runway is based on the better headwind.
IMHO, you’re right. Anybody who has any interest in aviation or American History, going there is well worth the trip.
In addition, I recommend the site in Dayton, Ohio.
and 66 years later, we walked on the moon.
If you’ve never been to the Wright Brothers museum and park in NC, it should be on your bucket list. Really fantastic.
Isn’t that just crazy amazing? And now onto Mars. Wow.
Gotcha. Thanks.
Well, we mostly made the trip to visit my wife’s family in NC, but Kitty Hawk was a nice addition.
Yes, very cool when you’re standing on top of that hill.
Thanks to vaskypilot and the many others who have taken the time to post history and archaeology topics these last few months!
Today...Mach .8
(where have all the cowboys gone)
I will if I ever go there, but it’s unlikely that I’ll have a reason to go to Ohio.
If you’re ever in Tucson, AZ, I highly recommend the Pima Air and Space Museum. Lots and lots of military aircraft to walk around and look at. Unfortunately, the Davis-Monthan AFB boneyard tour was discontinued during COVID.
Think about landing that plane at a groundspeed under 10 mph vs. at a groundspeed of around 60 mph. That's why.
AVIATION PING!....................
Correct. Unless the Wrights declared their pronouns, that seems to be the Inclusive terminology.
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