Aerodynamics: The Wright way

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The Wright brothers inspired modern-day aerodynamics

Long before the legend of Icarus, humans watched birds in flight and dreamed of sharing the same power. By the time Wilbur and Orville Wright emerged onto the scene, this dream had built up to a frenzied obsession. The world eagerly awaited the invention of the aeroplane, however, existing models could do little more than hop briefly off the ground. The most valuable piece of the puzzle, a means of controlling the aircraft, still eluded inventors.

In childhood, the Wright brothers were naturally curious and fortunate enough to have a family that nurtured this trait. When their father presented them with a working toy helicopter, their undying fascination with flight was sparked. They played with the beloved contraption endlessly and, when it broke, they built their own.