Louis Bleriot and the Wright Brothers
Wilbur and Orville Wright were the greatest force behind American aviation development, beginning long before their pioneering controlled flight on December 17, 1903. Louis Bleriot studied their work and witnessed the successful flight by Wilbur Wright near the LeMans race track on August 8, 1908:
From the superb Wright historical website,
http://www.first-to-fly.com/History/Wright%20Story/heflies.htm :
On Saturday, August 8, Wilbur Wright awoke to the day that he had awaited for almost three years. The sky was clear, the wind nearly still, and his steed was waiting. Later he wrote to Orville, "I thought it would be a good thing to do a little something."
A small crowd had gathered in the racetrack's grandstands, among them Bleriot and Archdeacon. Will was oblivious to them went as he went about the business of making the airplane ready. He hummed a little tune as he worked. Then, when the he was satisfied that the airplane was fit to fly, he climbed in the left seat. The engine sputtered to life, then died — Wilbur's back collar stud had caught on one of the wires. The stud was freed, the engine roared to life again, and without fanfare or ceremony, Wilbur Wright flew two complete figure-8s around the field.
The flight lasted less than two minutes. But the crowd was electrified. Those in the grandstands who were familiar with aviation knew what wonders they had seen. Wilbur had swept through four steeply banked turns as graceful as a hawk — there were none of the clumsy, dangerous flat turns that European aviators were making. Mr. Wright had control of his aircraft.
"I would have waited 10 ten times as long to see what I have seen today," said Bleriot. "Monsieur Wright has us all in his hands."
Archdeacon, one of the most vociferous critics of the Wrights, had to agree. "For too long, the Wright brothers have been accused of bluffing. They are hallowed today in France, and I feel an intense pleasure in counting myself among the first to make amends…"
Perhaps no one summed up the day so elegantly and succinctly as two small boys who sneaked in under the fence for a peek at the airplane. They grabbed their bicycles and raced back to Le Mans, shouting, "Il vole! He flies!" - from the website
For more on the Wright Brothers visit these websites:
http://www.wright-brothers.org/
Exceptional historical site, tracing the Wright Brothers development step by step, including many references to Louis Bleriot and other French aviation pioneers.
"The Wright Redux Association, based in Glen Ellyn, IL, is on a mission to reproduce the 1903 Wright Flyer. No group has ever successfully built a working replica of the first-ever powered aircraft, although many have tried. Our objective is to build and fly our machine before the end of 2002." - from the website
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Calendar - Wright Again Educational Materials by Date | |
This is a great historical resource and offers a monthly newsletter list informing you when new educational materials are available. The intention is to continue to add features corresponding to the 100th anniversary of the event, so new items will be added through the end of 2003.