Reaching For The Skies

I have always been absolutely fascinated with Orville and Wilbur Wright and astounded how these two tightly knit brothers changed the course of history and how they were able to finally ‘crack the nut’ that had mankind earthbound for centuries! Of course we all know that ideas and inventions build upon each other, but it was these two very unassuming Dayton, Ohio bicycle shop owners, with their practical knowledge of maneuverability and ‘control’, who surpassed all the previous dreamers and predecessors!

To get aloft was one feat – to have CONTROL was truly the critical factor. Their ingenious idea of ‘wing warping’ was applied to not only turning the airborne craft on three axis, but also in it’s actual propulsion through the air as well. For those reasons I chose to depict Orville and Wilbur very approachable and ‘grounded’ on and near their bench, and yet both airborne in their thoughts and vision for the future!

The 8.5 ft. propeller that Wilbur holds was masterfully hand carved out of spruce and weighed a mere 6 pounds, and yet the two props provided enough thrust (90 lbs.) to get the 1903, 605 lb., 40› wingspan, biplane off the ground for hundreds of feet that epic December day. No longer would mankind merely walk the earth.

From that day forward not even our earth’s atmosphere would limit our reach ! The Wright brothers – masters of ingenuity and truly, ‘GREAT CONTRIBUTORS’!