Pioneers of flight

Can you imagine a brief period of just 12 seconds changing the course of history? It was not a ‘eureka’ moment; for Orville and Wilbur Wright knew what they were doing, and why, and expected the results they got on 17th December 1903. 

That was the day when the Wright brothers recorded the first controlled, sustained, and powered flight at what is today a place called Kill Devil Hills, four miles south of a small town called Kitty Hawk in the American state of North Carolina. Their aircraft, the Wright Flyer, flew for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet, and thereby created a big milestone in aviation history. Slow as it was, it was the first time an aeroplane had flown.

The brothers flew four flights in their Wright Flyer, then walked back to Kitty Hawk, from where they sent a telegram to their father informing him of their success. The name Kitty Hawk has stuck because modern town of Kill Devil Hills did not exist until 50 years after the flights and the nearest settlement at the time was Kitty Hawk. 

The area was chosen the area because its frequent winds and soft sandy surfaces were suitable for the Wrights’ glider experiments, which they conducted over three years before they made the powered flights.

Then there was Glenn Curtiss, an important figure in early aviation, a pioneer in aircraft design and manufacturing and a key competitor of the Wright brothers. Curtiss’s first major aviation achievement came in 1908 when he flew the ‘June Bug’, winning the Scientific American Trophy for the first pre-announced public flight of over one kilometer in the United States.

The Wright brothers were bicycle merchants in Dayton, Ohio, ventured into the aviation industry in the late 19th century. Through meticulous research, experimentation and engineering, they developed the Wright Flyer, a biplane with a 12-horsepower engine. 

This historic flight in 1903 marked the first time a powered, heavier-than-air machine achieved controlled and sustained flight. 

The Wright brothers had solved critical problems such as lift, propulsion, and control, inventing the three-axis control system that remains the foundation of modern aircraft. By 1908, they had demonstrated their aircraft in public, solidifying their place in history.

At first glance, you might not see the relevance of the Wright brothers’ background in bicycle sales and maintenance. But it served them well when they began work on aircraft.

The Wright brothers had developed mechanical skills required for success in their previous work in their Dayton, Ohio. They had worked with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and other machinery. Their experience with bicycles was particularly useful in their design of their first flying machine. 

The experience with bicycles gave the brothers a sound understanding of balance and control. See how their bicycle expertise contributed to their success with aircraft:

Curiously, while the Wrights were bicycle merchants, Glenn Curtiss was an inventor and manufacturer of motorcycle engines as well as bicycles. Curtiss, who entered the aviation scene soon after the Wright brothers’ success, was a member of the Aerial Experiment Association (AEA), a group Alexander Graham Bell had founded to advance aviation. 

In 1908, Curtiss flew the ‘June Bug’, an aircraft he designed, and won the Scientific American Trophy for the first public flight of over one kilometer. This achievement brought him national attention and thus began his rivalry with the Wright brothers.

Curtiss made some significant contributions to aviation. He developed more powerful and efficient aircraft engines, pioneered the use of ailerons for lateral control (a design the Wright brothers contested in court), and founded the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, which became one of the most important aircraft manufacturers in the early 20th century.

The Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss were embroiled in a bitter legal battle over patent rights. The Wrights, who held a patent for their three-axis control system, sued Curtiss for infringement. The litigation lasted for years, slowing the progress of aviation in the United States. But Curtiss continued to innovate, and his company produced some of the most successful aircraft of the era, including the Curtiss JN-4 ‘Jenny’, which became a much-used plane in early aviation.

In short, Wrights and Curtiss played important roles in the early history of the aircraft manufacture.

The aircraft designs of the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss differed significantly in terms of control systems, structural features, and intended applications. Below are the main differences:

Control systems 

The Wright Brothers’ aircraft, such as the 1903 Flyer, used a unique three-axis control system. This included Wing-warping for lateral (roll) control; a forward-mounted elevator (canard) for pitch control; and a rear rudder for yaw control. This innovative system allowed precise control of the aircraft, which was critical for achieving sustained and controlled flight.

Glenn Curtiss’s designs relied on ailerons instead of wing-warping for roll control. Ailerons were simpler and more practical for larger aircraft and became the standard in aviation. His aircraft also featured more conventional tail-mounted elevators and rudders.

Structural design

The Wright Brothers’ planes were lightweight biplanes with a wooden frame covered in fabric. The 1903 Flyer had skids instead of wheels for landing gear, reflecting its design for short, straight-line flights on soft terrain like sand.

Glenn Curtiss’s aircraft were also biplanes but often more robust and practical for diverse uses. For example, the Curtiss JN ‘Jenny’ featured wheeled landing gear, making it suitable for varied terrains and longer flights.

Engine placement and power

The Wright Flyer used a custom-built 12-horsepower engine that powered two pusher propellers via a chain-and-sprocket system. The engine was mounted next to the pilot, and required careful weight balancing.

Curtiss’s planes, such as the ‘June Bug’, used more powerful engines with better reliability. His designs often emphasized speed and distance capabilities, which were essential for long-distance flights like his famous Hudson River journey in 1910.

Applications

The Wright Brothers’ early designs focused on proving the feasibility of powered flight and demonstrating controlled flight over short distances.

Curtiss aimed at practical aviation applications, including long-distance travel and military use. His designs evolved into versatile aircraft like the Curtiss JN ‘Jenny’, which became a cornerstone of civilian and military aviation after the First World War.

What they created

Both pioneers made crucial contributions to aviation, but their differing approaches reflect their distinct goals—scientific experimentation by the Wright brothers versus practical innovation by Glenn Curtiss.