What did the wright brothers do in 1908?

Answer 1

The Wright Brothers' Breakthrough Year of 1908

The year 1908 marked a pivotal point in the History of Aviation, as the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, continued to push the boundaries of flight with their groundbreaking innovations. Building upon their successful first flight in 1903, they made significant strides in improving their aircraft design and demonstrating its capabilities to a wider audience.

One of the most notable achievements of the Wright brothers in 1908 was their participation in the United States Army Signal Corps' aviation competition. The Army was seeking a reliable and practical flying machine that could be used for military purposes. The Wright brothers' Model A airplane was selected to compete against other designs, and it quickly proved its superiority.

In September 1908, Orville Wright successfully completed a series of flights for the Army, demonstrating the airplane's ability to maneuver, climb, and descend with precision. He also set a new world record for the longest continuous flight at that time, covering a distance of 24.5 miles. These impressive feats solidified the Wright brothers' reputation as the pioneers of powered flight and paved the way for the development of the aviation industry.

Beyond their military demonstrations, the Wright brothers continued to refine their aircraft design and experiment with new technologies. They developed a new wing warping system that allowed for better control of the airplane, and they also began exploring the potential of aerial Photography.

The year 1908 was a year of triumph and innovation for the Wright brothers. Their achievements not only solidified their place in history but also laid the foundation for the future of aviation. Their pioneering work inspired countless inventors and engineers, and their legacy continues to be celebrated today as a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome challenges and achieve extraordinary feats.

Answer 2

1901 Glider

The poor lift of the gliders led the Wrights to question the accuracy of Lilienthal's data, as well as the "Smeaton coefficient" of air pressure, which had been in existence for over 100 years and was part of the accepted equation for lift.Hoping to improve lift, they built the 1901 glider with a much larger wing area and made 50 to 100 flights in July and August for distances of 20 to 400 ft (6 to 122 m). The glider stalled a few times, but the parachute effect of the forward elevator allowed Wilbur to make a safe flat or "pancake" landing, instead of a nose-dive. These incidents wedded the Wrights even more strongly to the canard design, which they did not give up until 1910. The glider, however, delivered two major disappointments. It produced only about one-third the lift calculated and sometimes failed to respond properly to wing-warping, turning opposite the direction intended-a problem later known as adverse yaw. On the trip home after their second season, Wilbur, stung with disappointment, remarked to Orville that man would fly, but not in their lifetimes.