The Starfield in the dome of the Schuster Performing Arts Center portrays the constellation in the night sky over Dayton, Ohio, on the night of December 16, 1903.
The following morning on the sands of the banks of Kill Devil's Hill, North Carolina, at 10:35 a.m., December 17, 1903, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, Orville and Wilbur Wright , changed the world.
Orville flew the first flight for 12 seconds, covering 120 feet. Three more flights occurred that day, with the longest by Wilbur covering 852 feet in 59 seconds. The landing from the last flight slightly damaged the aircraft, the Wrights intended to quickly fix the Flyer and attempt yet another flight. Unfortunately, a sudden gust of wind picked up the aircraft and tossed it along the beach, causing extensive damage. The world's first successful airplane would never fly again, but that didn't deter Orville and Wilbur from moving forward with their dream of powered flight.
How the world has changed within the lifetime of people we have known.
ReplyDeleteChange keeps coming faster and faster now.
DeleteWouldn't they be amazed at where their inventive spirit has taken the world? Back in the 90's when I started doing consulting work and traveled back and forth between job locations, I often thought how my grandfather would be amazed that I had to get on an airplane to get to work.
ReplyDeleteYes, our grandparents would marvel at the change from their lives to present day.
DeleteThe Wright Brothers by David McCullough is a terrific book.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is!
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