The Wright Brothers: A Centennial Tribute

by Dr. Bob Gardner
Department of Mathematics
Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geology
Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
East Tennessee State University

ABSTRACT
In commemoration of the 100 year anniversy of the Wright Brothers first flight, the ETSU Planetarium will be presenting a special show. The show will include a brief discussion of the history of Orville and Wilbur Wright and their bicycle business. The influence of other aviation pioneers will be mentioned. The experiments and gliders of 1900, 1901, and 1902 will be described. The flights of December 17, 1903 will be discussed in some detail. Finally, the application of Bernoulli's principle to the theory of airfoils will be described and some history of local scientist Edward Huffaker (who first noticed this application) will be given.

  1. Background
  2. Newspapers and Bicycles
  3. Glider Experiments
  4. The First Flight
  5. After 1903
  6. Some Theory
  7. Edward Huffaker
  8. Conclusion
  9. References

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