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The Wright brothers approach in developing a power controlled was significantly different from other prior experiments from other scientists. Most aircraft designers at the time were keen on developing powerful engines to propel a plane up the sky. The Wright brothers were, however, keen on developing efficient wings and propellers (Ackroyd, 2011). Indeed, their first patent was for the invention of an aerodynamic control system with the capacity to manipulate the surface of a flying machine (U.S patent, 821,393).

The late 1890s saw significant aeronautical activities. In May 1896, Langley flew unmanned fixed-wing aircraft powered by steam. The same year, Octave Chanute made a breakthrough in his several glider tests. Octave and Lilienthal were using glider tests to determine plane controls. However, Lilienthal died from his glider’s crash. Lilienthal’s death motivated the Wrights to dig deep into flight research to find safer means of flight control (Ackroyd, 2011).

The brothers keenly followed the works of Lilienthal who believed that the only way of mastering flight control was through practicing gliding. Wilbur and Orville argued that flight control was the unresolved part of the flight problem and the key to safe fights. They argued that there were sufficient knowledge regarding other key parts of the flight problem which were wings and engines. Their arguments sharply differed from seasoned aeronautical engineers of the day such as Maxim and Ader who were engaged in building powerful engines and attaching them to airplanes without the existence of safe control devices (Brady, 2000). Although the brothers agreed with Lilienthal on matters of practice, they felt his idea of control by shifting of the pilot’s body weight inadequate hence they were determined to find better control methods.

Wilbur observed how birds controlled their flights to help him generate a solution to the controls question. He realized that birds changed the direction of their flights by shifting the angle of the ends of their wings. This observation was similar to the experience they were familiar with, riding a bicycle. Additionally, they believed that this revelation would solve the problem of lateral balance. The next problem was how they would be able to achieve similar effect using man-made wings. Wilbur soon realized that this effect could be achieved through the use of a wing warping when he twisted an inner-tube box at their bicycle shop.

The brothers started testing the wing warping in July 1899 by flying a kite with a 1.5m wingspan (Brady, 2000). They realized that upon warping or twisting the wings, one end of the wings went higher than the other. The unequal lit made the kite to tilt in different directions in accordance to how the wings were tilted or warped. In 1900 the Wright brothers joined Kitty Hawk to perform more gliding studies. The venue was proposed due to its soft landing surface in addition to regular breezes. The venue was also private from the press and the public. Most of these tests were successful.

To increase the plane’s efficiency, the Wrights began thinking of ways of incorporating a propeller in the airplane. Propellers had already been invented and were being used to propel ships. The designers argued that the propeller had an ability to generate thrust if installed in the airplane’s wings. According to (Brady, 2000) Wrights are credited for integrating the propeller into airplanes.

Once the propeller was harnessed to be used in aeronautics the problem of how they would run emerges. The Wrights designed an engine customized to turn the propeller. The engine used was called the Wright-Taylor engine. The engine had a propulsion system that was able to work for close to two minutes. This was yet another ingenious innovation by Taylor and Wright.

In December 17, 1903 the Wright brothers made an announcement that changed the world. They had invented a means of propelling and controlling a powered aircraft. To achieve this fete involved several years of hard and persistent work and their ability to capitalize on previous inventions of the likes of Lilienthal, Chanute and Cayley (Brady, 2000). With this innovation, the problem of control and propulsion aeronautics was solved.

One distinct quality of the Wright’s invented aircraft was its ability to control directions and maneuver in the air. This characteristic was previously not possible on glider flights. Maneuvering a flight according the brothers involved just a few steps. The first step is the roll movement of the wing tips, the yaw movement of the nose and finally the pitch control of the aircraft.

Despite making history as the first people to fly a heavy powered airplane, the Wright brothers were soon entangled in patent wars and criticism. The patent the Wright brothers received covered flight wing control and the discovery of wing warping, but fiercest patent war involved the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss (Russell, 1991). Curtiss was regarded as American Aviation’s founding father. Curtiss was also a bicyclist, just like the Wrights. The Wrights accused Curtiss of using their patent to produce planes for the Aerial Experiment Association without paying them royalties (Russell, 1991). These lawsuits significantly affected the aviation industry and negatively affected the Wrights reputation (Russell, 1991). The case was however decided in favor of the Wrights in 1909 but other patent wars continued.

The claim that the Wrights were the pioneers of the modern aeronautics is true. However, their works were based on previous invention from earlier aeronautic experts and engineers. Nonetheless, the Wrights were right to patent their work since they were new inventions that had not been applied in aeronautics before them. Their critics term them as greedy and unfair due to their numerous law suits to protect their patents.

The Wrights gained their mechanical skills from several years working in their bicycle, motor and machinery shop (Russell, 1991). Their experienced with bicycle influenced their idea that kite’s flights could be controlled and balanced. Between 1900 and 1903, the brothers conducted extensive studies and also developed their pilot skills. Taylor, their bicycle employee was very instrumental in building their first engine that would propel their flight. The engine was known as Wright-Taylor engine (Russell, 1991).

Despite the fact that the Wright brothers lacked intense engineering training, they relied on their passion for flying as a motivation for achieving their goal. The duo worked for a long time to achieve their dream undertaking varies many studies and experiments. Their dream became a reality when they flew the first flight in 1903. The machine was the first to be piloted by man-kind for close to 12 minutes. The machine was self propelling and power controlled. The modern day aircraft is understood due to the fact that it was developed based on the ideas of the Wright brothers.

Works Cited

Ackroyd, J. A. D. "Sir George Cayley: The invention of the aeroplane near Scarborough at the time of Trafalgar." Journal of Aeronautical History Paper No (2011): 6.

Brady, Tim. The American aviation experience: A history. SIU Press, 2000.

Freedman, Russell. The Wright brothers: How they invented the airplane. Holiday House, 1991.

Grant, Reg G. "Flight–100 years of aviation." Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology 75.2 (2003).