Chapter+16+wiki+Maddalon

The First Successful Airplane The first heavier than air flying machine was successfully test December 17, 1903. Although the aircraft only traveled 120 feet, and stayed in the air for around 12 seconds, it would begin a process of evolution that would lead to the jet aircraft in modern society. The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur owned a bicycle shop, and used their money to experiment with aeronautics. To develop their aircraft the Wright brothers conducted many tests, using gliders and wind tunnels to experiment. The Wright brothers plane was very different in build from current planes, constructed of a light wooden fuselage, and a cloth covering over the wings and control surfaces, the wings in particular needed a covering to provide lift. The plane was powered by an internal combustion engine that turned two propellers in a pusher configuration. One of the most important parts of the Wright 1903 Flyer was the ability to control and maneuver the plane using the ailerons, elevators, and the rudder which respectively changed the pitch, roll, and yaw.

Works Cited //The Americans Holt McDougal //. Student ed. Orlando Florida: Houghton, 2012. Print. "Parts of the Aircraft." //National and Aeronautics and Space Administration//. Ed. Tom Benson. NASA, 12 June 2014. Web. 4 Nov. 2015. .