Resource Unit: Wright Brothers

1
Resource UnitWright Brothers

• Jack Burton
• Rob Mitchell

2
Introduction

• The story of the Wright Brothers is the
  consummate American story. Two sons of a
  clergyman, from an average, mid-western American
  city, using Yankee ingenuity and determination,
  would change the world by accomplishing a feat
  that had eluded others who were better known,
  more experienced, and better financed.
• The Wrights were not the first men to fly
  people had been going aloft for hundreds of years
  using balloons and gliders. What they actually
  accomplished was controlled flight using a form
  of self-propulsion.

3
Introduction Page 2

• Learning about the Wright Brothers
  accomplishment entails much more than knowing
  details of the event that took place on that
  world-changing day in 1903, at Kill Devil Hill in
  North Carolina. It is important to recognize the
  other players in the game, the factors that made
  the Wrights successful where others had failed,
  and the astounding effects of their invention on
  local, national, and international history and
  development.
• The road to invention was not a smooth one
  for the brothers, and they would face their
  toughest challenges after the event, in the form
  of challenges to the authenticity of their work
  by some of their peers, a long patent fight, and
  denial of recognition of their feat for many
  years.

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Introduction Page 3

• The names of Langley, Chanute, Lilienthal,
  Curtiss, Phillips, and Santos-Dumont are
  legendary in aviation circles. These men, as well
  as their family and friends (including Paul
  Laurence Dunbar), all had roles to play in the
  lives of the two brothers, both positive and
  negative.
• The Wrights, themselves, were two completely
  different personalities, although history leads
  us to believe that they were of one mind. One
  (Orville), was energetic, with a passion for life
  and accomplishing the impossible, while the other
  (Wilbur), was sickly, more introverted, and less
  driven.

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Introduction Page 4

• The story has many facets, some of which we hope
  to cover in this two-week lesson. It is hoped
  that the students will come out of this with a
  new respect for the Wrights, an understanding of
  their vision and accomplishments, and a better
  knowledge of the local people and places that
  played a part in this all-American story.

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Vocabulary

• Evolution
  
• History
• Development
• Flight
• Flying
• Airplane
• Sir George Cayley
• Whirling Wind
• Gunpowder Engine
• Ornithopter
• Glider
• Wright Brothers
• Wilbur, Orville
• Powered Flight
• Alberto Santos Dumont
•  

• Cartier
• Otto Lilienthal
• Flapping Wing
• Samuel Cody
• Kite
• Simulation
• Flight Sim
• Experiment
• Bicycle balance
• Wind Tunnel
• Lift balance
• Drift balance
• Aerofoil
• Airfoil
• Aileron
•    

• Bernoulli effect
• How planes fly
• Supersonic
•  Taxi
•  Throttle
• Turbulence
•   Fuselage
• Ground speed
•   Inclinometer
• Jet propulsion
•  Payload
• Rudder
• Runway
•  Spin

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Objectives

• 1.     Identify the Wright Brothers family,
  friends, history, and local connections.
• 2.     Explain the processes and techniques used
  by the Wright Brothers.
• 3.     Summarize the basic concept differences
  between the Wright Brothers and their
  competition.
• 4.     Recognize the early pioneers of flight and
  illustrate the different concepts that each
  followed in his quest for flight.

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Objectives Page 2

• 5.Relate the development of flight to early
  military application and in particular, its uses
  and effects in the first World War.
• 6. Be able to discuss the effect of the Wright
  Brothers on the Dayton area in terms of
  technology, jobs, and historical aspects.
• 7. Identify wing warping, elevator and rudder
  control, and their relationship to the problems
  of pitch, roll, and yaw.
• 8. Recognize and relate the history and
  development of the wind tunnel.

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Objectives Page 3

• 9. Explain the reasons behind the patent suit
  instigated by the Wright Brothers.
• 10. Discuss the development of the Wright
  Patterson Air Force Base.
• 11. Become familiar with local sights and
  establishments connected to The Wrights and their
  legacy (Huffman Prairie, Carrillon Park, the
  Wright Brothers Memorial, Air force Museum,
  etc.).
• 12. Be able to explain in detail the importance
  that the aviation industry played in American
  history throughout the twentieth century.

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Activities

• Based upon the fact that this class is comprised
  of only 12 AP American Studies students, these
  students will be afforded the opportunity to
  participate in curriculum that is entirely web
  based. During the upcoming semester we will cover
  10 complete units each encompassing a multitude
  of historical American significance. Because this
  class is entirely web based all class meetings
  will take place in the learning center located in
  the rear of the library. When additional class
  space is required, the library has given us
  permission to utilize the workstations ordinarily
  reserved for quiet study. I have compiled a list
  of resources that will assist you in your
  research efforts. You may use any of the sites as
  well any others to compile the required data. 
• Unit one will commence with the study of the
  Wright Brothers and their impact on aviation in
  the United States.

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Activities

• Activities 1 and 2 Monday-Thursday
• To complete this assignment you will need to pair
  up with a partner and commence researching
  information about the Wright Brothers. You will
  need to find a minimum of one hundred facts about
  the Wright Brothers before you can successfully
  proceed to the second phase of this project. Upon
  the successful completion of your data collection
  efforts you will need to prepare a report
  detailing your specific findings. Your reports
  are due at the beginning of class on Friday. You
  and your partner will have four class periods to
  work on and complete this assignment. Anything
  that cannot be completed in the allotted class
  time must be done as homework.

• Activity 3 Friday,
  Monday
• To complete this activity each student will need
  to bring in a magazines and a poster board, as
  this assignment requires each team to create a
  collage and diagram depicting the accomplishments
  of the Wright Brothers in general aviation. You
  will have access to markers, glue, colored
  pencils, and scissors. Your completed collage and
  diagram will be due at the end of class on
  Monday.

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Activities Page 2

• Activity 4- Tuesday
• To complete this assignment you will need to
  prepare a brief five-minute summary of the
  research your team collected the previous week.
  Your summary should also include a brief
  explanation of your collage and diagram. You will
  present your findings to the class. Any summaries
  not discussed on Tuesday will be presented during
  the following class period. Because this is the
  first time that we have done this as a class here
  are a few helpful hints to get you started.
• Use your notes and choose your best ten facts to
  prepare your "Did You Know Report."
• Always use a word processing program to write
  your report.
• Plan and prepare your visual aid.
• Practice with your partner, your presentation of
  your "Did You Know Report."
• Present your report to your classmates completing
  a self-evaluation form.

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Activities Page 3

• Activity 5 - Wednesday
• For this assignment you will need to return to
  their individuals terminals and watch a series of
  streaming videos and commentary about the Wright
  Brothers and their accomplishments. As part of
  your assignment you will need to write a 500-word
  essay explaining why or why not you feel the
  Wright Brothers accomplishments have impacted
  American society. This assignment will be due at
  the beginning of class on Thursday.

• Activity 6 - Thursday 
• On Thursday December 5th we are scheduled to have
  a guest speaker from Wright Patterson Air Force
  Base. Col. Thomas Robbins, the Deputy Wing
  Commander for Wright Patterson has agreed to come
  and speak to you about aviation, and the many
  benefits that have derived from air travel. Your
  only assignment is to participate in the class
  discussions created by Mr. Robbins comments.

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Activities Page 4

• Activity 7 - Friday 
• The first fifteen minutes of class on Friday
  will be dedicated to a re-cap of the discussion
  that took place during the previous class period.
  Your only assignment is to contribute to the
  class discussion. The remainder of the class
  period will be spent watching a PBS broadcast
  entitled The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. Your
  only homework assignment is to begin studying for
  the test that will be administered on Tuesday. If
  you have any questions or concerns remember to
  write them down and bring them to class with you
  on Monday.

• Activity 8 - Monday
• This class period is dedicated to a recap of the
  previous two weeks lessons. Any questions or
  concerns will be addressed at this time. Students
  may seek assistance from the teacher and
  classmates. Students will receive background
  information of the tests length, format, and
  expectations. Any student that does not feel as
  though he or she has adequately grasped a concept
  may come in at lunch or after school and we will
  address your concerns. Your only homework
  assignment is to study for the test. Remember to
  bring in a functioning number two pencil and
  several sheets of loose-leaf notebook paper. Good
  luck, and study hard.

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Activities Page 5

• Activity 9 - Tuesday
• Test day, each student will be administered an
  examination covering the previous two weeks
  lessons. The students will have the entire period
  to complete the examination. Remember to budget
  your time wisely as you will only this class
  period to complete the test. The test itself is
  not top be written on, any one that writes on the
  tests will be docked 10 for failing to follow
  directions. All non-essay answers are to be
  placed on the answer sheet. For the essay
  questions you are to write your responses on
  notebook paper. Attach your essay responses to
  your completed test and turn both in by the end
  of the period.

• Activity 10 - Wednesday
• On Wednesday you will have substitute teacher.
  Your assignment is to begin defining the terms
  for our next unit. You will find a copy of these
  terms in your e-mail. We will discuss these terms
  on Friday.

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Evaluation-Unit test-Wright Brothers

• Multiple-choice Part A.
• The difference between the Wright Brothers and
  other people who were trying to invent an air
  flying machine was that the Wright Brothers
  understood the importance of the ________.
• a.Shape of the wings
  c. Weight of the wing material
•  b. Length of the wings
  d. Height of the wing itself
•  2. The biggest problem the Wright Brothers and
  other early pioneers faced in the development of
  early aircraft was _______.
• a. Financing their research
  c. Having a place to test their ideas
• b. Finding a combination that would work d.
  Theft of ideas by other inventors
• 3. When testing for durability and reliability
  the Wright Brothers thought it best to test their
  creations in a________.
• a. Research lab
  c. Out building
• B Wind Tunnel
  d. field near their home
•  4. The Wright Brothers did not receive the
  accolades that many inventors would receive for a
  revolutionary discovery, the reason for this is
  because ________?
• a.They were unknown
  c.They were bike mechanics
• b.They had never patented any prior work d.
  They had failed in the past

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Evaluation-Unit test-Wright Brothers
5. The Wright Brothers developed the first plane
that was used by the United States Army. The Army
specified that the plane had to be able to
____________________. a.       Fly 80 MPH and
stay aloft for 2 hrs. c. Fly 40 MPH and
stay aloft for one hr. b.      Fly 120 MPH and
stay aloft for 1.5 hrs d. Fly 60 MPH and stay
aloft for 1.5 hrs. Short Answer Provide brief
explanations to the questions listed below 1.
Describe how the wing of an airplane creates
lift.  2. Why would the Wright Brothers want to
test new equipment prior to instillation?  3.
Why would the United States government intervene
in the stalemate that resulted when large
companies stole many of the Wright Brothers
patented inventions? What incident provoked this
response?
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Evaluation-Unit test-Wright Brothers

• Match the word in column A with description from
  column B.
• A.
  B.
• ___ 1. Glenn Curtiss
  A. Founder of the American Aviation Industry
• ___ 2. Birthplace of Aviation
  B. Dayton, Ohio
• ___ 3. Kite C. Kittyhawk, North Carolina
• ___ 4. US Coast Guard
  D. First aircraft produced by Wright Brothers
• ___ 5. Fuselage E. Developed as a flying
  mechanism
• ___ 6. The Wright Brothers
  F. Provided assistance to the Wright Brothers
• ___ 7. Drag G. The Wright Brothers
• ___ 8. Drift H. The body of a plane
• ___ 9. Airfoil I. Instrument showing if plane
  up or down
• ___ 10. Aileron J. Lever
  controlling the flow of fuel to engine
• K. Angling of plane caused by crosswind
• L. A surface shaped to produce lift.
• M. Hinged flange on trailing edge of the
  wing
  for raising or lowering the
  wing in flight.

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Evaluation-Unit test-Wright Brothers

• Essay
• Write a brief essay one of the following topics
• A.) Explain the role the Wright Brothers have
  played in the development of the Aviation
  industry. Identify specific instances or
  industries that have prospered as direct result
  of the Wright Brothers invention.
• B.) Assume you are a major corporation with
  aspirations of developing an aircraft.
  Unfortunately for your company another much
  smaller company has developed this technology
  first. What might you do to acquire this
  technology? How would this effect product
  development in the future?
• C.) Identify and explain the factors that
  contributed to the Wright Brothers not receiving
  the immediate credit and fame for developing the
  first flying plane.

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Evaluation-Unit test-Wright Brothers

• Bonus
• Explain what is meant by the phrase Secrets of
  Flight

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Instructional Resources
-Teacher References

• Wright Brothers
• 1. Jakab, Peter L. Visions of a Flying Machine
  The Wright Brothers and the Process of Invention.
  Smithsonian Institution Press,1990.
• This text provides an in depth explanation as to
  how the Wright Brothers developed the first
  flying aircraft. The book provides detailed
  information and explanation as to how a plane is
  able to obtain lift and fly. You will find an
  enormous amount of explanatory terminology within
  this text. Teachers will find this text very
  useful when trying to explain the process of
  flight.
• 2. Jakab, Peter L., Wright, Wilber., Wright,
  Orville., Young, Rick. The Published Writings of
  Wilbur and Orville Wright. Smithsonian
  Institution Press, 2000.
• This heavily autobiographical book explains in
  detail how Wilbur and Orville Wright developed
  the first flying aircraft. The text explains in
  great detail the particulars of the Wright
  Brothers creation. Great for seeking in depth,
  detailed information.

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Instructional Resources-Teacher References

• 3. Culick, Fred EC., Dunmore, Spencer. On Great
  Wings The Wright Brothers and the Race for
  Flight. Italy Hyperion/Madison Press Book, 2001.
• This text paints an in depth portrait of the
  trials and tribulations that the Wright Brothers
  faced as they embarked upon history. The book
  describes how bicycle inventors single handedly
  transformed the world. Text provides an accurate
  look at the daily lives of the Wright Brothers
  and how they were able to achieve their goals.
• 4. Crouch, Tom. The Bishop Boys A Life of Wilbur
  and Orville Wright. New York/London W.W. Norton,
  1989.
• This book concentrates on the lives or Wilbur and
  Orville Wright. Text pays a great of time
  explaining the Wright Brothers background,
  childhood, etc. This book is an excellent
  reference for teachers looking for specific
  background information on the Wright Brothers.

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Student References-Hyper linked for instant
student access-

• 1. http//www.first-to-fly.com/
• Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company and Museum of
  Pioneer Aviation- site contains detailed
  information on all of the Wright Brothers
  Aircraft.
• 2. http//firstflight.open.ac.uk/
• The first flight website takes an in depth look
  at the inventions and experiments that the Wright
  Brothers conducted during their careers.
• 3. www.outerbanks.com/wrightbrothers/
• The Wright Brothers National Memorial website
  contains information on the Wright Brothers
  historical flight as well as information on the
  original Wright Flier.
• 4. www.firstflight.org/
• The first flight society web site details the
  obstacles the Wright Brothers had to overcome to
  achieve their dream of flight.
• 5. http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wright/
• This website contains schedules and archives
  detailing many of the Wright Brothers
  achievements.

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Student References -Hyper linked for instant
student access- Page 2

• 6. http//www.libraries.wright.edu/special/wright_
  brothers/dmc.html
• The Wright State University website contains
  hundreds of rare Wright Brothers photographs.
  Students can spend entire class periods
  researching one of the Wright Brothers many
  airplane designs.
• 7. http//www2.faa.gov/education/wright/wright.htm
  
• The Federal Aviation administration serves as the
  benchmark of the American Air Industry. The site
  contains numerous links to other site if you are
  unable to locate your subject matter from the FAA
  website.
• 8. http//www.centennialofflight.gov/1903.htm
• The Centennial of Flight Commission website is
  dedicated to preserving and recognizing a Century
  of American flight.
• 9. http//www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/preww1/p
  w3.htm
• The WPAFB website details the history of flight
  from 1903 to the present.
• 10. http//www.inventingflight.com/invention/wrigh
  t_brothers.php
• This website provided by the Dayton Daily news
  provides extensive information of the Wright
  Brothers as well as detailed information on the
  upcoming Centennial of Flight celebration that is
  to take place in 2003. This website is excellent
  source for reference material.

25
Student References -Hyper linked for instant
student access- Page 3

• 11. http//quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/wright/
• The NASA site contains numerous links to
  information sites. By accessing this site you can
  monitor the progress of the Wright B Flier that
  is currently under construction.
• 12. http//www.b-link.co.uk/ckn/inventors/wright_b
  rothers.htm
• This website contains background information on
  some of Americas most influential inventors.
• 13.http//invention.psychology.msstate.edu/i/Wrigh
  ts/Wright_photos.html
• This website contains more then three hundred
  rare glass plate photographs.
• 14. http//www.aero-web.org/history/wright/wrifram
  e.htm
• This website contains valuable information about
  the specific details of the earliest American
  flight.
• 15. http//www.glennhcurtiss.com/id19.htm
• The Glenn Curtis website is virtual tour
  throughout aviation history. The site contains
  historical data, copies of original signed
  aviation patents etc.

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Student Media References

• 1. Wright Brothers Photography CD-ROMPhotographs
  taken by Wilbur or Orville Wright between 1896
  and 1911, archived on CD-ROM. The photos document
  their successes and failures with their new
  flying machines.paperlessarchives.com
• 2. The Wright Brothers Photographs Kill Devil
  Hills - Kitty Hawk, ... Kitty Hawk - Kill Devil
  Hills Wright Brothers Photographs 1900-1911.
  Library of Congress. Camp at Kitty Hawk,
  1900.LC-USZ62-65018 ...Description Wright
  Brothers pages with actual photos of the brothers
  and Kitty Hawkwww.outerbanks.com/wrightbrothers/w
  rightlc.htm 
• 3. http//www.wrightflyer.org/Movies/index.html
• Quick time movie
• 4. http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wright/
• Quick time movie
• 5. http//www.centennialofflight.gov/links.htm
• Maps of the Wright Brothers first historic
  flight.

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Student Media References Page 2

• 6. http//www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/peanuts-w
  right-brothers-at-kitty-hawk.html
• Movies include details of first flights, as well
  as information that can be used in the next unit
  on the construction of the transcontinental
  railroad.
• 7. http//www.glennhcurtiss.com/id19.htm
• Virtual tour of historic letters, documents, and
  historical aviation exhibits. 
• 8. http//www.first-to-fly.com/
• Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company and Museum of
  Pioneer Aviation- site contains detailed
  information on all of the Wright Brothers
  Aircraft. 
• 9. Wright brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright
• A brief biography of the Wright brothers Wilbur
  and Orville Wright, inventors of the airplane
  photographs. A brief biography of the Wright
  brothers includes links to articles prepared by
  the brothers describing...www.wam.umd.edu/stwrig
  ht/WrBr/Wrights.html 
• 10. http//firstflight.open.ac.uk/
• The first flight website takes an in depth look
  at the inventions and experiments that the Wright
  Brothers conducted during their careers.

28
Student Media References Page 3

• 11. www.outerbanks.com/wrightbrothers/
• The Wright Brothers National Memorial website
  contains information on the Wright Brothers
  historical flight as well as information on the
  original Wright Flier.
• 12. www.firstflight.org/
• The first flight society web site details the
  obstacles the Wright Brothers had to overcome to
  achieve their dream of flight.
• 13. THE FIRST FLIGHT
• At North Carolina's Kill Devil Hill, two
  unassuming brothers from Dayton succeed where so
  many others before them had failed. Lying on a
  glider-like craft, Orville Wright makes the first
  heavier-than-air powered flight in history. From
  takeoff to landing, the Wright Flyer soars some
  800 feet across the windswept dunes-VHS
  videocassette. (Socialstudies.com 2002 Website
  99.95) 
• 14. THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
• Highlights dreams of human flight in the 19th
  century, the Wrights success built upon
  exhaustive research with kites and gliders, the
  brothers as self-taught scientists-VHS
  videocassette, guide. (Socialstudies.com 2002
  Website 39.95)
• 15. http//www.libraries.wright.edu/special/wright
  _brothers/dmc.html
• The Wright State University website contains
  hundreds of rare Wright Brothers photographs.
  Students can spend entire class periods
  researching one of the Wright Brothers many
  airplane designs.

29
Student Media References Page 4

• 16. http//www.inventingflight.com/invention/wrigh
  t_brothers.php
• This website provided by the Dayton Daily news
  provides extensive information of the Wright
  Brothers as well as detailed information on the
  upcoming Centennial of Flight celebration that is
  to take place in 2003. This website is excellent
  source for reference material.
•  17. http//www.glennhcurtiss.com/id19.htm
• The Glenn Curtis website is virtual tour
  throughout aviation history. The site contains
  historical data, copies of original signed
  aviation patents etc.
•  18. http//quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/wright/
• The NASA site contains numerous links to
  information sites. By accessing this site you can
  monitor the progress of the Wright B Flier that
  is currently under construction.
•  19. http//www.inventingflight.com/invention/wrig
  ht_brothers.php
• This website provided by the Dayton Daily news
  provides extensive information of the Wright
  Brothers as well as detailed information on the
  upcoming Centennial of Flight celebration that is
  to take place in 2003. This website is excellent
  source for reference material.
•  20. http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wright/
• This website contains schedules and archives
  detailing many of the Wright Brothers
  achievements.