Did you know today is Wright Brothers Day?

Question

Today is Wright Brothers Day, commemorating the first successful flights in a heavier than air, mechanically propelled airplane, that was made by Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903.

It was in 1959 that President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared December 17th to be Wright Brothers Day.

Comments

I just checked out the profiles for Orville and Wilbur and found that they are both unsourced and have rambling biographies that are short on factual statements and long on flowery prose.  In addition, the profiles are public.

I would like to recommend these profiles for a joint effort collaborative profile of the week after someone persuades the profile managers to open them so that they can be improved.  It does not do justice to either Orville, Wilbur, or the Notables project the way they are.

Answer 1

Yes, Eowyn, I *did* know that, but thank you for the reminder - I had not been thinking of it until you alerted me.  I remember the anniversary date very well - in 2003, I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina for the centennial celebration.  The accomplishments of the Wright brothers are beyond my ability to fathom.  Some of the tools and techniques they had to invent/create/develop in order to accomplish their amazing feat are still in use today in analysis of aircraft design.

Answer 2

No, thanks for posting this, Eowyn!