1878 1892 The Flying Toy: A small toy “helicopter”— made of wood with two twisted rubber bands to turn a small propeller—that the Wright brothers played with as small boys. The Bicycle Business: The Wright brothers opened a bicycle store in 1892. Their 1900 experience with bicycles aided them in their TheThe WrightWright Way:Way: investigations of flight. TheThe ProcessProcess ofof InventionInvention The Search for Control: From their observations of how buzzards kept their balance, the Wright brothers began their aeronautical research in 1899 with a kite/glider. In 1900, they built their first glider designed to carry a pilot. Wilbur and Orville Wright Inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright placed their names firmly in the hall of great 1901 American inventors with the creation of the world’s first successful powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard. The age of powered flight began with the Wright 1903 Ohio Flyer on December 17, 1903, at Kill Devil Hills, NC. The Wright brothers began serious experimentation in aeronautics in 1899 and perfected a controllable craft by 1905. In six years, the Wrights had used remarkable cre- ativity and originality to provide technical solutions, practical mechanical Birthplace design tools, and essential components that resulted in a profitable aircraft. They did much more than simply get a flying machine off the ground. They established the fundamental principles of aircraft design and engineering in place today. In 1908, they demonstrated their flying machine publicly in the United States and Europe. By 1910, the Wright Company was manufactur- of Aviation ing airplanes for sale. Despite the Wrights’ dramatic jump ahead of the rest of the world aeronautical community, others quickly caught up to Wilbur and Orville Wright and surpassed their designs, which is the nature of Orville Wright Wilbur Wright science. They accomplished their goals by themselves. They relied on their The 1901 Glider: The Wright brothers 1901 own questions, hypotheses, experiments, research, observations, infer- (1871-1948) (1867-1912) Glider enabled them to spend more time in the ences, and conclusions. They tested and failed repeatedly.They endured dis- air and to uncover additional design problems. appointment and hardships to realize their dream of inventing a flying machine, the airplane. The Wright brothers did not just fulfill their goals but they ushered in a new era of air and space exploration. 1901 1905 Dayton, OH The Wind Tunnel: The Wrights tested small model wings in a wind tunnel that enabled The Wright 1905 Flyer: This Flyer was the 1902 them to calculate the wing shape and size that world’s first practical airplane—a machine that 1904 would be required to lift them into the air. could bank, circle, turn, and fly figure eights. Dec. 17, 1903 Huffman Prairie Dayton, Ohio Controlling the Aircraft: The key to solving the The Wright 1904 Flyer: The Wrights’ second control problem was the addition of a rudder powered airplane, flown at Huffman Prairie, to the glider design. This allowed the Wrights achieved the first circular flight of an airplane. to develop a powered aircraft. Stability was still a problem. The Solution: At Kill Devil Hills, NC, in the morning, the Wright 1903 Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight. Susan and Milton Wright investigations that begin with a question Middle-school students are given oppor- includes reviewing the experimental pro- date student interests, while helping all scientific knowledge is, in principle, Celebrating a Century of Powered Flight and progress toward communicating an tunities to better understand scientific cedures, examining the evidence, and develop an understanding of the human subject to change, as new evidence The Process of Poster Credits The Wright brothers turned their dreams into reality and revolutionized the world. answer to the question. Teachers should inquiry and the interactions between sci- suggesting alternative explanations for the dimension of science, the nature of scien- becomes available. In situations where emphasize investigations and thinking about ence and society. Teachers of science can same observations. Scientists agree that tific knowledge, and the place of science information is fragmentary, it is normal for Invention This poster was developed by the NASA explanations and not overemphasize memo- use the actual experiences of student questioning, response to criticism, and in society. scientific ideas to be incomplete, but this Headquarters’ Education Division, Office We invite you to visit the U.S. Centennial A Few Questions to Get Your State. Create a calendar with information rization of scientific terms and information. investigations, case studies, and historical open communication are integral to the is also where the opportunity for making Orville and Wilbur Wright were masters of of Human Resources and Education, Frank of Flight Commission’s Web site about significant people, places, and his- About The Poster Students Started Students learn about scientific inquiry vignettes to develop an understanding of process of science. Fundamental concepts and principles advances may be greatest. inquiry. Inquiry is a multifaceted activity C. Owens, Director of Education. Anne (www.centennialofflight.gov) where you The state motto of Ohio is “The Birthplace torical aviation and aerospace events in Holbrook, NASA Einstein Fellow, created This poster was designed to honor the and significant people from history. the history and nature of science. for Science as a Human Endeavor: that involves making observations; posing will find information about the of Aviation.” Why was that motto chosen? your State. Share your poster and calen- questions; examining books and other the poster with oversight from Debbie accomplishments of the Wright brothers, Fundamental concepts and principles Individuals and teams have contributed Fundamental concepts and Commission, the centennial of powered Where did the Wright brothers live? What dar with others in your school, communi- sources of information; planning investiga- Gallaway, Assistant Director of Programs two brilliant, self-trained engineers from Fundamental concepts and principles Fundamental concepts and principles for the History of Science: and will continue to contribute to the sci- principles for Historical Perspectives: flight, and the history of aviation and did they do? When did they become inter- ty, or State. Send an electronic copy of tions; using tools to gather, analyze, and for the U.S. Centennial of Flight Ohio who designed, built, and flew the first for Science as a Human Endeavor: for Science as a Human Endeavor: Many individuals have contributed to the entific enterprise whether it is as a career Throughout history, diverse cultures have aerospace. The site has been designed to ested in aviation? What did they do to fur- your poster and your calendar to the interpret data; proposing answers, explana- Commission and William E. Anderson, power-driven, heavier-than-air machine in Science and technology have been prac- People of various social and ethnic back- traditions of science. Learning something or hobby. Doing science or engineering contributed scientific knowledge and be used by educators and their students, ther their knowledge about aviation? Read Centennial of Flight Commission’s Web site tions, and predictions; and communicating Partnership Manager for Education, Office which humans made free, controlled, and ticed by people for a long time. Men and grounds engage in the activities of sci- about these individuals can provide fur- can be as simple as an individual conduct- inventions. Modern science began to aviators, aviation enthusiasts, the media, “The Wright Brothers’ Story” on this ([email protected]). the results. The Wright brothers used criti- of Aerospace Technology. The following sustained flight. women have made contributions through- ence, engineering, and related fields. ther understanding of scientific inquiry, ing field studies or as complex as hun- evolve rapidly in Europe several hundred and all organizations planning to partici- poster to find out why the pictures on the Plan your own centennial of flight cele- cal and logical thinking skills when consid- individuals were consulted during the The National Air and Space Museum, out the history of science and technology. Scientists communicate extensively with science as a human endeavor, the nature dreds of people working on a major scien- years ago. During the past two centuries, pate in the celebration. The Web site also front of this poster are significant. bration. If your event meets the criteria ering alternative theories of aviation. development of the poster: Linda Smithsonian Institution, provided the The centennial of powered flight presents a Although men and women using scientific others. Science requires different abilities, of science, and the relationships between tific question or technological problem. it has contributed significantly to the includes a calendar that provides informa- for inclusion on the Commission’s calen- Hallenbeck, Teacher in Residence for images A-4189 and A-442710. Special unique opportunity to focus on the historical inquiry have learned much about the depending on such factors as the field of science and society. Science is practiced industrialization of Western and non- tion about upcoming events related to the Why is the State