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| December 17, 1903: Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina First human powered heavier than air sustained flight in what is now referred to as the first airplane. |
On this day in 1903 at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio with no college education became the first to achieve human-powered, heavier than air sustained flight in what we now call the airplane. Orville and Wilbur Wright's quest wasn't an Icarus Agenda with necessity as mother. Their motives were rooted in ambition and doing something that had never been done. Orville later had a near fatal fall when flying quite high but it wasn't from hubris....they both knew that to achieve great heights you can't be afraid of falling. The Wright Brothers were just two men of humble origin with keen intellect, fierce tenacity, and undaunted courage who dared to be great.
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| Orville Wright 1905 |
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| Wilbur Wright (1905) All pics from Wikipedia |
We jet setters have so much to thank this incredible pair of geniuses for. Their contribution to air travel has changed the planet and even our diet and medical care, which can reach us with a speed that was only a mere pipe dream before these two arrived on the scene. Thank you for the reminder, wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteThey really are the very best example of The American Dream. Their heirs will also never set foot in a college classroom instead undertake, self directed course of study via Khan Academy, and outperform the MIT, Princeton, Harvard, crowd.
ReplyDeleteI had not heard of the location of the first flight - interesting name! THey were indeed true pioneers, and quite the moustache grower in Orville!
ReplyDeleteI've been there Heidi to pay my respects on July 7, 1992 and remember it well as a few hours later I smoked dope for the only time in my life (age 27) at a rented beach house with college buddies and WAGs....let's just say I was cruising at greater altitude than Orville...
DeleteDid you discover a connection to the wonderful Ruth Law?
ReplyDeleteCurator, in my initial inquiries, I haven't and let my ancestry.com membership lapse so will renew late Winter to find our kinship. I can feel her moxie coursing through my veins.
DeleteYou know that's the subject of David mccullough's next book? I am dying to visit the Carolinas and this would be a big stop - Barry is obsessed with all things aviation and is slowly pursuing his pilots license as funds allow. Thanks for the great reminder!
ReplyDeleteWendy, I can't wait to see how McCulloch handles the Wright Bros. They are of greater interest (and impact) than most of the Founding Fathers.
Delete...and to think that only 66 years later we landed on the moon!
ReplyDeleteThat is astonishing but now we marvel at Twitter and Netflix.
DeleteI always respect the self-taught. Everything useful in my life has been learned outside the classroom.
ReplyDeleteJen, I dipped my toe back in academia a few years ago and was flabbergasted at what I saw. My buddy was a near retirement age Internationally recognized Dr Johnson scholar from Harvard who told me he could never endure as a student what his English Dept has become. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.
DeleteAlways amazes what we can do when we let go of fear and embrace the impossible.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed Teresa!
DeleteGosh they were steely eyed chaps weren't they? as brave as anything, BB is right
ReplyDeleteThey are easily amongst my top five American heroes Jody.
DeleteTo achieve great heights one can't be afraid of falling or failing! I agree with Jenn about the wisdom learned outside of the classroom. The school of hard knocks has been very instructional in my life.
ReplyDeleteMe too Jennifer and we've just to keep plodding along as that adversity does indeed make us stronger.
DeleteMerry Christmas, and All The Best in 2015, GSL!
ReplyDeleteHoliday Cheers,
Donna
Thank you Donna! My very best warm wishes for a splendid 2015 to you as well.
DeleteHoliday cheer from me on my iphone
ReplyDeleteThank you Jody! Your indomitable spirit and adventure are a real inspiration here at The Den...the kids sometimes call this a 'girl crush'...since we're sophisticated men of the world we loftily refer to it as 'raison d'etre'.
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