Watching a documentary, and expert after expert say the Wright Bros.

[No2W2004]

were nuts for trying to fly that plane. One aircraft designer said that "morally and ethically, I couldn't allow anyone to fly on that if I designed it".

One guy rebuilt the flyer, but had to modify it because "I would never risk my neck on the original design, it's unsafe."

So, just how DID the Wright Bros. get their plane in the air?

[Wat_Tyler]

1. Richard Pearse beat them, though.

http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/pearse/pearse.htm

[No2W2004]

2. no one's asking about who was first....

just if the Wrights were some kind of mutant super-beings who could fly an aircraft that was impossible to fly.

[RoeBear]

5. Shhh...don't tell them but...

...bumble bees can't fly either.

[aden_nak]

3. One of the great things about doing something new. . .

is that you don't yet know what an incredibly stupid idea it is.

[qnr]

4. They didn't have the benefit of decades

of aeronautical experience. How were they supposed to know it was that dangerous? Seems to me, in their mind, the whole idea of flying was dangerous. From what you posted, the experts don't say that it couldn't be flown, just that they wouldn't risk their necks with the knowledge they have now.

[No2W2004]

6. exactly

They also say Wilbur and Orville must have been two of the greatest pilots ever. There is much admiration for the Wright Brothers being able to actually fly the thing.

[parasim]

7. Tenacity of purpose

Greatness is not necessarily required for scientific progress. Intestinal fortitude has probably more to do with it. In other words, more guts than greatness.

Unless they forced others to attempt to fly their unstable, seemingly unflyable contraptions, I don't see where ethics or morals enter into it.

[No2W2004]

8. sorry, I wasn't clear.....

the designer in question was speaking in terms of if he were asked to design an aircraft like the Wright Flyer today, he couldn't allow anyone to fly it because his conscience wouldn't let him.

It's more of a statement as if to say "how the hell did those guys actually fly this thing?" With all the advances, and knowledge we have now, the Wright Flyer remains a mystery.

[Philostopher]

9. Maybe they figured dying in an experimental plane crash ...

was a better option than going back to Dayton with their tails between their legs and fixing bicycles for the rest of their lives?

[texas1928]

10. Well that is why you have test pilots

Sometimes those guys have more guts than brains. But to get the flight programs and planes off the ground it takes some nut that has a death wish to fly some of the things they come up with. That is a part of testing.

[zbdent]

11. Were'nt "conservatives" and "Christians" trying to block Elvis

from becoming more than just a truck driver?

Hmm, and now the same "conservatives" and "Christians" consider him "The King".

[SarahB]

12. I'm related to the Wright Brothers.

Just goes to show some of my moronic genepool.