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Wilbur Wright Letters

Wilbur Wright believed that human flight was possible through continued experimentation and accumulation of knowledge. In his letters from 1899-1903, he discusses building gliders to solve issues of control and equilibrium. By 1903, the Wright brothers had increased their glide times to over a minute. On their first attempt with a motor that year, Wilbur crashed on take off due to a control error. However, he was confident in their design and four days later they achieved the first successful sustained flight.

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34 views2 pages

Wilbur Wright Letters

Wilbur Wright believed that human flight was possible through continued experimentation and accumulation of knowledge. In his letters from 1899-1903, he discusses building gliders to solve issues of control and equilibrium. By 1903, the Wright brothers had increased their glide times to over a minute. On their first attempt with a motor that year, Wilbur crashed on take off due to a control error. However, he was confident in their design and four days later they achieved the first successful sustained flight.

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Name: Class:

Letters from Wilbur Wright


By Wilbur Wright
1899 to 1903

The Wright Brothers, Orville (1871-1948) and Wilbur (1967-1912), were two American brothers, inventors,
and aviation pioneers who are credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane.
They made the first successful sustained flight on December 17, 1903. The brothers were self-taught
engineers who experimented for years in the midst of skepticism and criticism from the engineering
community. As you read, take notes on Wilbur Wright's ideas on what will be needed for successful human
flight.

Wilbur Wright to the


Smithsonian Institution (May
30, 1899):
[1] Dear Sirs:

I have been interested in the problem of mechanical


and human flights ever since as a boy I constructed
a number of bats of various sizes after the story of
Cayley’s and Penaud’s machines. My observations
since have only convinced me more firmly that
human flight is possible and practicable. It is only a
question of knowledge and skill just as in all "Wright 1901 Glider Landing" is licensed under .
acrobatic feats. Birds are the most perfectly trained
gymnasts in the world and are specially well fitted for their work, and it may be that man will never equal
them, but no one who has watched a bird chasing an insect or another bird can doubt the feats are
performed which require three or four times the effort required in ordinary flight. I believe that simply flight
at least is possible to man that that the experiments and investigations of a large number of independent
workers will result in the accumulation of information and knowledge and skill which will finally lead to
accomplished flight.

Wilbur Wright to His Father (September 3, 1900):


I have my machine nearly finished. It is not to have a motor and is not expected to fly any true sense of the
word. My idea is merely to experiment and practice with a view to solving the problem of equilibrium. I have
plans which I hope to find much in advance of the methods tried by previous experimenters. When once a
machine is under proper control under all conditions, the motor problem will be quickly solved. A failure of
motor will then simply mean a slow descent and safe landing instead of a disastrous fall.

1
In my experiments I do not expect to rise many feet from the ground, and in case I am upset there is nothing
but soft sand to strike on. I do not intend to take dangerous chances, both because I have no wish to get hurt
and because a fall would stop my experimenting, which I would not like at all. The man who wishes to keep
at the problem long enough to really learn anything positively cannot take dangerous risks. Carelessness and
overconfidence are usually more dangerous than deliberately accepted risks. I am constructing my machine
to sustain about five times my weight and am testing every piece. I think there is no possible chance of its
breaking while in the air. If it is broken it will be by awkward landing.

Wilbur Wright to His Father (October 4, 1903):


[5] We have increased our time and length of flight [with glider] to 43 seconds, which is 1 and two thirds over last
year’s record and about three times the best of any one else. We will soon have it up to more than a minute
as we are now able to remain practically stationary when a suitable wind blows up a good slope. This is
something former experimenters were entirely unable to accomplish.

Wilbur Wright to His Family (December 14, 1903):


[Discussing his plan with an engine]

We gave machine first trial today with only partial success. The wind was only about 5 miles an hour, so we
anticipated difficulty in getting speed enough on our short track (60 ft.) to lift. We took to the hill and after
tossing for first whack, which I won, got ready for the start. The wind was a little to one side and the track
was not exactly straight down hill, which caused the start to be more difficult than it would otherwise have
been. However, the real trouble was an error in judgment in turning up too suddenly after leaving the track,
and as the machine had barely enough speed enough for support already, this slowed it down so much that
before I could correct the error, the machine began to come down, though turned up at a big angle.

Toward the end it began to speed up again, but I was too late, and it struck the ground while moving a little
to one side, due to wind and a rather bad start. A few sticks in the front rudder were broken which will take a
day or two to repair probably. It was a nice easy landing for the operator. The machinery all works in entirely
satisfactory manner and seems reliable. The power is ample, and but for a trifling error due to lack of
experience with the machine and this method of starting, the machine would undoubtedly have flown
beautifully.

There is now no question of final success. The strength of the machine is all right, the trouble in the front
rudder being easily remedied. We anticipate no further trouble in landings. Will probably have made another
trial before you receive this unless weather is unfavorable.

[10] Note: December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers flew their machine for 59 seconds, covering 852 feet.
This was considered the first successful sustained airplane flight in history. The brothers continued to
improve their airplane designs and eventually incorporated the Wright Company in 1909.

Letters from Wilbur Wright by Wilbur Wright is in the public domain.

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