“…the distinctive popping, cluttering, flapping sound of engine and propellers drifted over from the Huffman pasture. The Wright boys were at it again” (289).
The Book
Crouch divides the book into three sections: Family, Wings,
and World. “Family” lays the ground work for the following sections by
exploring the lives and influence of the Wright Brothers’ parents, Milton and
Susan, the experiences that shaped the brothers, and their early careers in
printing and bicycles. “Wings” focuses on the early experiments of the
brothers, from the late 1890s to 1904. Often bored, the brothers would look for
another project. Wilbur became interested in flight first, with Orville joining
later. Here is where their differences begin to complement each other: Wilbur
was interested in the big picture and Orville in making the big picture work. Unlike
all others pursuing flight, Wilbur believed the pilot needed complete control
of all axes of flight – just like on a bicycle. This belief impacted the design
of all their gliders and flyers.
After spending several years traveling to Kitty Hawk, NC, and
realizing that this was no longer a hobby, the brothers searched for an
alternative closer to home. In Spring 1904, they chose Huffman Prairie for its
isolation (eight miles from Dayton) and location on the interurban line (a form
of public transit). The 1904 machine struggled due to poor flying weather and
mechanical problems. But, once the brothers built a catapult to launch the
flyer, the take-offs were less risky and flights more successful. “World”
begins with the success of the 1905 Wright Flyer III at Huffman Prairie. Throughout
the Fall, their flights are increasingly longer, they demonstrate complete
control over the machine, and attract spectators. Not long after, the brothers
stopped flying to focus on obtaining a patent and contracts to sell the plane.
The bulk of the section details the ups and downs of negotiating with the US
and European governments, creation of the Wright Company, and maintaining their
status as the first in flight. The brothers are often labeled as fakes due to
their insistence on secrecy (all to protect their design). When Wilbur passes
away in 1912, at the age of 45, Orville lost interest in the company. He sold
it and walked away, preferring to tinker in his Dayton laboratory for the rest
of his life.
Crouch writes in an engaging way, describing the technical details and experiments that are easy to understand and visualize. In some cases, the narrative slows to a play by play. Here, the reader can almost imagine what it would have been like to fly for the first time or watch a man fly for the first time. Crouch relies heavily on long passages from family letters to provide details and character insight, helping the reader visualize who Wilbur and Orville were. I particularly liked the chapters in the “Wings” section that explored Wilbur’s early thoughts about flight and where to experiment. There are a handful of black and white photos interspersed in the chapters; it would have been nice to have a few more of them. There were two areas where I think opportunities were missed. One was the too brief mention of the Wright Brothers Home Days Celebration in Dayton and the other was too much time spent on biographies of other individuals.
The Place
I recommend that visitors start at the museum. It focuses on
the Wright Brothers time at Huffman Prairie: developing and testing the Flyers
and the flying school they started in 1910. There is very little overlap
between this museum and the other sites in Dayton. Just outside is a memorial,
dedicated in 1940. Once you complete your time in the museum, you can drive
down to the flying field. A replica barn and catapult sit in the field, similar
to the ones the Wright Brothers would have used, and interpretive signs are
scattered around the field.
