The Wright Brothers

I have decided to focus on the Wright Brothers for this project since they are fascinating to me. Their are so many accomplishments made in their lives, but they are most well-known as the two men who invented controlled and successful flight. I have began reading an article who describes in great detail anything and everything you will ever want to know about the Wright Brothers. First I'll explain a little about their younger years.

The Wright Brothers started out in an average family where they moved several times until they finally settled in Dayton, Ohio. Wilbur and Orville's int rest in flight came early to them when their father, a bishop in the United Brethren Church, brought home a toy helicopter. Their family always encouraged learning. Sometimes his family would even allow the boys to leave school early so they could "pursue their own intellectual int rests" (1). The family owned their own library where the kids would study anything they wanted. By age eleven, Orville was already making kites and selling them to friends.

Wilbur was planning on attending Yale, but because he and his mother beginning to develop health problems he decided not to. Luckily his health improved, but he felt that college "would be money and time wasted" (1). Since they were a close family they looked closely after their mother and read "voraciously" (1) in their spare time.

Orville decided to join his friend, Ed Sines, in the printing business. Orville, with the help of Wilbur, "designed and built a professional press from a damaged tombstone, buggy parts, and other recycled odds and ends," (1).

1. The Wright Story. 29 Jan. 2007. Wright Brothers Aeroplane Co. of Dayton, Ohio. >

Why Flight Technology?

I will be writing about flight technology for this project because it is the major I am most interested in. I had always dreamt about flying since i was a kid although the thought of being a pilot hadn't ever crossed my mind until the second time I had been on a plane. Every time I get on a plane it's such a thrilling experience. My favorite part is the lift off. I love the speed and finally feeling yourself rise into the air. It's almost like an extreme rollercoster then. Once you're in the air you don't even notice the movement anymore then you do in a car. In fact it is a much more comfortable ride. I also love looking out the window at everything below as we rise. I hate when it's cloudy because you can't see the ground once you're past the clouds. I remember coming back from Venice all I could see was the ocean. It's a pretty scary thought knowing that if anything goes wrong you can't even land! Although, it's very unlikely that serious things happen. I also love how fast you can travel. By getting my pilots licence I would love to own a jet and be able to fly anywhere whenever I wanted to. Getting paid to something that I would love seems perfect; Especially when it's a six figure salary. During this paper I may also want to explore some serious bad things about it which holds me back from my final decision. Overall this subject is in great interest and I would love to learn more about it.