On this date, Dec. 17, 1903...

[BlitzPig_EL]

 

An event that changed everything happened, and eventually it brought us all together here.

[PatrickAWlson]

People who only know about that flight sometimes scoff at it - 100 yards and barely off the ground.  Thing is the Wrights did everything in a very methodical (and sensible) fashion.  That first flight was just enough to see if they could get off the ground.  That was its purpose.  After that they did a 180 degree turn.  Then a figure eight.  Then more altitude and more endurance.  By the time others were beginning to get off the ground the Wrights could fly for an hour at over 2K feet.  They were really amazing self taught engineers.

[AndyJWest]

2 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

People who only know about that flight sometimes scoff at it - 100 yards and barely off the ground.  Thing is the Wrights did everything in a very methodical (and sensible) fashion.  That first flight was just enough to see if they could get off the ground.  That was its purpose.  After that they did a 180 degree turn.  Then a figure eight.  Then more altitude and more endurance.  By the time others were beginning to get off the ground the Wrights could fly for an hour at over 2K feet.  They were really amazing self taught engineers.

 

Yup. The Wrights weren't just trying to 'fly', they were trying to develop a practical flying machine. Which is what they succeeded in doing.