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The two became interested in [[aviation]] when they read an article on the death of a daring glider pilot and inventor named [[Otto Lilienthal]]. In 1899, they began to experiment with a biplane kite. The next year, the brothers went to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to test a 16 foot (ft.) glider, which cost them $15.00 to build. They returned to Kitty Hawk in 1901 to experiment with a larger non-motor powered aircraft, but neither glider had the lift they had counted on. They concluded that the published tables of air pressure on curved surfaces were all wrong.
The two became interested in [[aviation]] when they read an article on the death of a daring glider pilot and inventor named [[Otto Lilienthal]]. In 1899, they began to experiment with a biplane kite. The next year, the brothers went to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to test a 16 foot (ft.) glider, which cost them $15.00 to build. They returned to Kitty Hawk in 1901 to experiment with a larger non-motor powered aircraft, but neither glider had the lift they had counted on. They concluded that the published tables of air pressure on curved surfaces were all wrong.
The brothers built a [[wind tunnel]] in their bicycle shop, and began experiments with model wings. From these tests, they determined the first reliable air pressure tables on curved surfaces. They then built a new glider in 1902, with [[aerodynamic]] qualities far in advance of its time. By the fall of 1903, they had completed building a machine that weighed just over 750 pounds with the pilot, and it had a 40 ft. wing span. But would it fly? That remained to be seen.
The brothers built a [[wind tunnel]] in their bicycle shop, and began experiments with model wings. From these tests, they determined the first reliable air pressure tables on curved surfaces. They then built a new glider in 1902, with [[aerodynamic]] qualities far in advance of its time. By the fall of 1903, they had completed building a machine that weighed just over 750 pounds with the pilot, and it had a 40 ft. wing span.
On December 17, 1903, they returned to Kitty Hawk to test the new aircraft. Orville piloted the machine, and he flew 120 ft. in just over 12 seconds.
On December 17, 1903, they returned to Kitty Hawk to test the new aircraft. Orville piloted the machine, and he flew 120 ft. in just over 12 seconds.