Abstract
The given paper revolves around one of the greatest events in the history of humanity which predetermined the further development of science and society. The Wright brothers first flight is investigated in the course of the given work. It tends to present a reader with a clear and detailed analysis of the main concerns related to the given event. The paper has a clear structure that helps to explore the significant facts and emphasize the importance of the event. The background information is mentioned to explain the atmosphere of that period of time and provide a better understanding of the unique character of flight. There are the discussion and conclusion at the end of the paper.
Main Body
Dreams have always been the main moving force of scientific thought and the whole human society. The ability to think about the far future and imagine unreal things is the main issue that distinguishes a human being from the animal world. Dreams have given rise to many concepts which resulted in significant discoveries and changed the image of the world greatly. Fortunately, the stream of thoughts is endless and people continue to establish new goals. However, they are based on the concerns of predecessors who dared to turn into reality the most unconventional ideas. The modern airplanes ascend to one of these ideas which had a great impact on the minds of people.
Sky has always attracted people by its inaccessibility and mystery. Looking at it, people could only dream about flights and envy birds, hovering in the sky. These feelings resulted in the appearance of various beliefs connected with the flights and skies. Investigation of various religions shows that heaven was taken as the place where divine creatures resided (The First Flight, n.d.).
For this very reason, these creatures were also attributed with the ability to fly. However, accepting the given nature of this process, humanity still tried to reach this space. The majority of ancient myths include the descriptions of the first attempts. For example, the myth about the Daedalus and Icarus, who created the wings though fell. The Bible, one of the most important books of humanity, also has lines related to the cogitations about flights and their nature. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”. (Isaiah 40: 29-31 New International Version) The flight was considered as a sort of reward to people because of its divine nature. However, the evolution of the scientific thought resulted in the reconsideration of the approach towards the given issue. Additionally, the bloom of humanism triggered the increase in the role of an individual and the importance of his/her ideas. The complex of these processes combined with the inborn thrift for the achievements and investigations has given rise to the concepts of mechanisms which could help people to reach the sky.
The Wright brothers were not the inventors of the first who tried to create the airplane; however, their success and contribution to the development of aeronautics could hardly be overestimated. Orville and Wilbur were informed about the chain of deaths and failures connected with the previous attempts, however, they still adhered to the idea of the motor-driven flight (The Wright Brothers – First Flight, 1903., n.d.).
They realized the fact that there are some significant aspects of the given project which should be improved. The loss of control was one of the main reasons for the fails of the previous flights. Brothers Wright were determined to find a better way to control their invention and guarantee a successful landing. At the first stages of the project, they favored the Lilienthals strategy and continued investigations in the given direction (The first successful airplane, n.d.).
They focused on the investigation of the tactics used by birds. These observations promoted a better understanding of the nature of flight and the way in which birds control their direction. The major concern was related to such issues as aerodynamics and the properties of the body in the air environment. Investigating the given aspect, brothers came to the idea about the new type of control based on the change of the angles of wings. This practice combined several important aspects. First, it helped to avoid the complicated and inefficient shifts of the position of a pilot needed for the control. Secondly, this model helped to make the glider more piloting, increasing the success rate.
Mainly due to the new approach created by Wrights, the success of the whole project became possible. Investigation of the wing wrapping needed for the control helped brothers to obtain the needed experience and skills needed for the controlled and successful flight (Federal Aviation Administration, 2008). Additionally, the gliders proved the Wrights ideas about the nature of control and helped to calculate the needed lifting power for the airplane equipped with the engine. The work on the needed type of engine was complicated as the idea was unique. Much also depended on the way in should be installed and used.
Having found the efficient solutions to the major problems, Wright brothers managed to create the plane equipped with the engine and aerodynamics control. These inventions and precise calculations helped to get rid of the drawbacks of the previous projects and guaranteed the success of the given one. On December 17, 1903, the Wrights took to the air at a speed of 6.8 miles per hour (The First Flight, n.d.). There were several flights that day which proved the accuracy and correctness of brothers decisions and the approaches used by them. Only five people witnessed their overwhelming success and understood the great potential of the given invention.
The first flight had an outstanding impact on the evolution of the scientific thought and mentality of people. The approaches used by the Wrights in their project became the model for all airplanes created at that period of time. The brothers did not finish their investigations and continued to improve the handling qualities of their planes. For this reason, the final version of their airplane had a number of significant differences from the first one and could be characterized as the next stage of the evolution of aeronautics.
The brother’s Wrights first flight has given rise to a great number of important concerns. However, the major one was related to the mentality of people. Mankind accepted the idea that the sky is accessible for them and their dreams might come true. The Wrights helped humanity to reconsider its potential and believe in its forces, establishing new and ambitious goals. The modern stage of the development of aeronautics is the most significant result of Wrights contribution to the evolution of the idea of flights.
References
Federal Aviation Administration. (2008). Pilot handbook of aeronautical knowledge. Web.
The First Flight. (n.d.). Web.
The first successful airplane. (n.d.). Web.
The Wright Brothers – First Flight, 1903. (n.d.). Web.