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New Book Says Wilbur Wright Pretty Much Worked Alone

Orville Wright (left; Wilbur at right) maintained control of the brothers' papers about the first flight. Library of Congress
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A new book, "Wright Brothers, Wrong Story" by William Hazelgrove, claims that Wilbur Wright, not both brothers equally, was the primary inventor of controlled flight.
  • Hazelgrove provides evidence such as Wilbur's sole contact with aeronautical experts and the US Weather Service, his extensive correspondence leading to breakthrough ideas, and his construction of early prototypes like the box-wing kite and glider.
  • The author suggests that while Orville was a gifted mechanic, Wilbur possessed the unique genius and imaginative intuition for theoretical leaps, and the narrative of equal credit was solidified by a 1943 biography authorized by Orville after Wilbur's death.
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It wasn’t that long ago that theories circulated about whether or not the Wright Brothers were actually the first people to leave the earth successfully aboard a powered flying machine of their own creation. Now, a new book says most of the work of the partner brothers was actually the effort of just one, Wilbur Wright.

Rob Mark

Rob Mark is an award-winning journalist, business jet pilot, flight instructor, and blogger.

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