In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made history when they achieved the first powered flight in Kitty Hawk. But their great feat did not occur in isolation. The Wright brothers' work built on that of many others, without whom the Wright Flyer may never have left the ground.
What is the story of the birth of flight? What was the history of aviation like before the Wright brothers' historic flight? And how did their flight lay the groundwork for future change?
American Innovation: The Birth of Flight webinar features Richard Hallion, former Curator of Science and Technology at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and Senior Adviser for Air and Space Issues, Directorate for Security, Counterintelligence, and Special Programs Oversight at the Pentagon; Peter Jakab, current Senior Curator and former Chief Curator and Associate Director for Collections and Curatorial Affairs at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum; and Leo Murphy, Professor of Aeronautical Science with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. You may find a list of their publications by clicking here.
The discussion is moderated by David Randall, Director of Research for the National Association of Scholars.
For more webinars in this series be sure to look over this playlist.
