First Flight

[Cruiser]

Congratulations Orville and Wilbur,

I am sure they were sitting in there cabin toasting one another right about now. First flights in heavier than air, powered airplane at Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hill, N.C. this date one hundred eleven years ago.

[MooneyBob]

Respect.

[FloridaMan]

Yup. It's amazing how much has been done in living memory (barely, in this case, but supposedly Bob Hoover met one of the Wright brothers). Our great nation with its system of government has brought forth more technological progression for mankind since its inception than the rest of the world back to the beginning of time. 

 

I read recently that the compound bow was invented by a guy in Missouri back in the 1960s... Think about that. All this time that man used the bow and arrow and nobody thought to apply simple mechanical advantage to the design. 

 

There is still much to be invented. 

[rbuck]

What a feat! If anyone here hasn't had the chance, I highly recommend First Flight Airport at Kitty Hawk. 

 

It's amazing what we are capable of here in this country. 

[Piloto]

What impressed me more about the Wrights is the development of the plane and engine in three years with limited budget, no college degree and no prior pilot training. Try that today.

 

José

[Hank]

Jose, there were no shelves bulging with onerous regulations . . . No FAA, no OSHA, no environmental impact surveys & reports, no pre-approvals, no grants, no inspectors or designated representatives or examiners or flight surgeons or NIMBYs or noise complaints. Only revenues, the tax man and the occasional train heist.

[bonal]

What's most impressive and what made it possible was they came up with a propeller that was 85% efficient so I've read. To be able to do that in those days is truly incredible

[1964-M20E]

Jose, there were no shelves bulging with onerous regulations . . . No FAA, no OSHA, no environmental impact surveys & reports, no pre-approvals, no grants, no inspectors or designated representatives or examiners or flight surgeons or NIMBYs or noise complaints. Only revenues, the tax man and the occasional train heist.

I think you are quite right if Orville and Wilbur were to try and do that today it would take them $50M, and 10 years and they would have to employ an army of lawyers to defend against the onslaught of regulations and lawsuits.  

[fantom]

I think you are quite right if Orville and Wilbur......lawyers to defend against the onslaught of regulations and lawsuits.

Sadly, the brothers had to do that, even back then, 110 years ago. Some things never change.

[Hank]

Their legal fights were all patent-related, except those making their claim of being first.

[carusoam]

I think they got over it...

http://www.curtisswright.com/company/history/

With their friend Glen Curtiss?

They and their company were truly skilled in several areas...

R&D, Engineering, marketing, sales, production, policy and...patent law.

Best regards,

-a-

[FloridaMan]

I think that years ago it was even more difficult to get past the legal and regulatory barriers than today. Big business has been big business for hundreds of years. 

[carusoam]

And getting finances required a relationship with the Queen of Spain... Worked alright for that Italian guy with the Nina and Pinta...

[Jerry 5TJ]

Jose, there were no shelves bulging with onerous regulations . . . No FAA, no OSHA, no environmental impact surveys & reports, no pre-approvals, no grants, no inspectors or designated representatives or examiners or flight surgeons or NIMBYs or noise complaints. Only revenues, the tax man and the occasional train heist.

 

I'd say the Wrights were ardent fans of governmental regulation:   After 1906 they essentially gave up all innovation of their own and spent much of the next two decades suing other aviation pioneers for patent infringement.

 

The original 1903 flyer and especially their home-built 12 hp engine (constructed by Charles Taylor) is a marvel of light, efficient construction, clever design and careful progress achieved by the two brothers.   

[Hank]

I'd say the Wrights were ardent fans of governmental regulation:   After 1906 they essentially gave up all innovation of their own and spent much of the next two decades suing other aviation pioneers for patent infringement.

 

The original 1903 flyer and especially their home-built 12 hp engine (constructed by Charles Taylor) is a marvel of light, efficient construction, clever design and careful progress achieved by the two brothers.   

 

Note that their affinity for government interference began after they commercialized their airplane, in vain attempts to monopolize flight. There was no regulatory "oversight"/interference during their construction, test program or even initial sales.