First in Flight Read online

  Wright, Reuchlin, 114

  Wright, Wilbur, 84, 92; birth, 18; conceives wing warping, 22–23; death, 19, 257–58; described, 19; first glide, 40; 1908 flights in France, 235, 236; speaks before Western Society of Engineers, 96

  Wright brothers, 105; automatic-stability system, 245, 251, 252; bicycle business, 16–17; build engine for 1903 Flyer, 132–34; camp at Kill Devil Hills, 54–57, 93, 111–12, 121, 208, 317, 318; coverage in press, 51–52, 190–94, 199–200, 205–7, 214, 216–18, 221–24, 227–28, 296; design propellers for 1903 Flyer, 132, 134–36; early business dealings, 18; efforts to sell airplane, 200, 201, 202–3, 204–5; exhibition team, 239–40; first biplane kite, 23; first powered flights, 180–81; first two-man flights, 227; interest in flight, 20; patents, 131, 200, 238, 245, 274; relationship with Chanute, 24, 53, 71–72, 96, 99–100, 136–37, 156, 194, 201–2, 203–4, 279–83, 284; relationship with Dan Tate, 151–52; relationship with Drinkwater, 161; relationship with Fessenden, 89–91, 94–95, 292; relationship with Herring, 101–2, 103, 109, 289–90; relationship with Huffaker, 66–68, 156; relationship with Langley, 124–25, 165–67; relationship with lifesavers, 139; relationship with 1908 press corps, 213, 215, 221, 224, 228, 229–30; relationship with Spratt, 68, 72–73, 116–17, 156, 284–85; views on Outer Banks, 38–39; wind-tunnel tests, 97–98, 284–85; world fame, 237–38

  Wright Brothers National Memorial, xiii, 162, 255, 315; airstrip, 268; anchoring dune, 263–64; beacon, 267; conceived, 260; construction of monument, 264, 266; First Flight Area, 268; map room, 267; replica craft, 268; vandalized, 266; visitor center, 268

  Wright Company, 239, 258

  Wright Flyer of 1903, 137–38, 162, 169–70, 182, 262, 312, 316; installed in Smithsonian, 288, 302, 308–9; sent to England, 276

  Wright Flyer of 1904, 197, 198

  Wright Flyer of 1905, 198, 208, 228, 317–18

  Wright glider of 1900, 42, 45–46, 74, 316

  Wright glider of 1901, 42, 74, 75, 77, 80, 82, 112, 137

  Wright glider of 1902, 112, 117–18, 119, 123, 137, 163, 170, 172

  Wright glider of 1911, 246

  Wright Memorial Bridge, 261, 267–68

  Wright Roadster, 244

  Wright-Martin Company, 258