The Wright Brothers; The Remarkable Story of the Aviation Pioneers Who Changed the World

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780316861441
• ISBN10: 0316861448
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2003-10-01
• Publisher: Little Brown Uk

Summary

The conquest of the air at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, was one of the supreme achievements of the 20th century. On that day, two unknown bicycle mechanics, Wilbur and Orville Wright, launched the first successful powered airplane. They changed the world forever. InThe Wright Brothers,Ian Mackersey gives us an intriguing new biography of these eccentric figures, whose genius unlocked the secrets of mechanical flight to realize one of man's oldest dreams.

Table of Contents

Preface	3	(10)
Prologue	13	(2)
The Bishop's Sons	15	(11)
A House of Piety (1868--1886)	26	(11)
Trials of the Righteous (1886--1889)	37	(7)
The Bird-watching Bicycle-makers (1890--1899)	44	(13)
Some Aeronautical Theories (1899)	57	(14)
To Ride a Flying Machine (1899)	71	(13)
Complexities of the Invisible Forces (1900)	84	(14)
A Place Called Kitty Hawk (1900)	98	(16)
The Maestro's Disciples (1901)	114	(20)
A Wing of Perfect Shape (1901)	134	(14)
Tumult in the Church (1902)	148	(12)
An Unscrupulous Guest at Kill Devil Hills (1902)	160	(21)
`Our Turn to Throw' (1903)	181	(14)
Twelve Famous Seconds (1903)	195	(19)
`Damn'd if They Ain't Flew' -- An Unnewsworthy Event (1903)	214	(14)
Shattering the Five-Minute Barrier (1904)	228	(18)
Unwanted Baby for Sale (1905)	246	(17)
The French and British Connections (1905--1906)	263	(14)
Fliers or Liars? (1906)	277	(12)
The Arms Dealer and the Dowager (1906--1907)	289	(12)
Corruption in Paris (1907)	301	(10)
Fraternal Friction (1907)	311	(16)
Supremacy Threatened (1908)	327	(14)
Triumph at Le Mans (1908)	341	(18)
The Trumpet Blasts of Fame (1908)	359	(14)
Disaster in Washington (1908)	373	(17)
Tongue of Scandal (1909)	390	(16)
The Lawsuits (1909)	406	(14)
A Precious Friendship Sours (1910)	420	(12)
`Keep Out of My Air' (1910--1911)	432	(14)
`A Short Life Full of Consequences' (1912)	446	(18)
Feud with the Smithsonian (1913--1917)	464	(17)
Spinster in Love (1918--1925)	481	(16)
`Little Brother' Alone (1926--1929)	497	(14)
The Twilight Years (1930--1948)	511	(13)
Notes	524	(12)
Bar Chart Illustrating the Supremacy of the Wright Brothers 1903--08	536	(2)
Select Bibliography	538	(3)
Sources and Acknowledgements	541	(3)
Index	544