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American History Tellers
The Wright Brothers | Controlling the Skies | 4
Jan 22, 2025
Lawrence Goldstone, an award-winning historian and author of 28 books, delves into the early aviation scene and the Wright Brothers' pivotal role. He explores Harriet Quimby's trailblazing solo flight across the English Channel and the influence of Otto Lilienthal's experiments on flight dynamics. Goldstone also discusses the intense patent wars they faced with Glenn Curtiss and the military's initial skepticism toward aviation’s utility. The conversation unveils the challenges and triumphs that shaped the dawn of controlled human flight.
40:31
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Quick takeaways
- The Wright brothers revolutionized powered flight by integrating bicycle technology principles of balance and control into their pioneering aircraft design.
- Despite their achievements, the Wright brothers struggled to maintain industry dominance due to intense competition and patent wars, hindering further innovation.
Deep dives
Harriet Quimby's Historic Flight
Harriet Quimby made history on April 16, 1912, by becoming the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel. Despite challenging weather conditions that could affect visibility, Quimby was determined to make her flight. Her journey was framed by competition, notably with fellow aviator Gustav Hamel, who had recently made a similar flight with a female passenger. Quimby's achievement was overshadowed by the Titanic disaster, which occurred just a day earlier, leading to decreased media attention on her significant accomplishment.
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Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode