Assignment 13A: Reading Reflection No.1

The Wright Brothers-By David McCullough

About the Wright Brothers

1.     What surprised you the most?

a.     While reading about the Wright Brothers many things surprised me. When I was a child and even now all I really knew was that they paved the way for the airplanes we see today. The biggest shock to me was that the first airplane causality occurred with one of the Wright Brothers, Orville, steering the Flying Machine. I guess I was surprised because we remember the good and positive outcomes most of the time. Also, I had never known that they made demonstrations in Europe (France, Germany and Italy to be more specific). I always thought they stayed in the states.

2.     What did you admire about the Wright Brothers?

a.     I really admired the hand work and determination of the brothers. They had many nay-sayers and people who thought they were crazy to think that humans could fly with the birds. However, they did not let that deter them and they would work harder than ever. Also, they were able to remain patient while trying to improve their Flying Machines. If the machine crashed they were happy to fix it and update it. I know if I was working at something for three years I would get extremely frustrated and want to quit. They really stuck through it until the end, even in the rough times.

3.     What did you least admire about the Wright Brothers?

a.     I was not a fan of their handling of false reports made by the press. When Wilbur and Orville started to have more consistent flights, they began to draw a crowd and reporters. The reporters would claim that they would fly greater distances and stay in the air longer than they actually did, which makes for a great headline but it was an over embellishment. The brothers really did nothing to correct this and, in my opinion, they could have at least mentioned something. If I were in the crowd and thought that I would see the Flying Machine stay in the air for 5 minutes (during its initial stage) and it was only there for 2, I would be somewhat disappointed.

4.     Did they encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

a.     They encountered many failures because they were trying to create and perfect a new technology. They had many nay-sayers who kept telling them that were crazy, however they just kept working away. They also experienced many crashes during the years that they were working. But, the brothers were okay with crashes and failures like this because it meant that they were able to improve their Flyers and make them better than before. The biggest challenge to hit them, was Orville was in critical condition after an incredibly bad accident. The brothers had been working in two different countries, and Wilbur was so upset that he was not there to help his brother. It was a major set-back, but the Wright family came together and when Orville healed things began to go back to normal.

What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 

            The Wright Brothers were very informed, intellectual, and determined men even from a young age. They did not let failure or frustrations bring them down and were excited to make changes to improve their inventions. Throughout the book it was shown that many people were impressed but the vast knowledge that the brothers, especially Wilbur, had. They also valued the relationships that they made during their lifetime. Wilbur did have a small spat with Octave Chanute, but he did put differences aside and resolved the matter.

Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

            The reading itself was not confusing, but I was confused as to why Orville and Wilbur chose to go to separate from each other for their demonstrations. Orville remained in the US and Wilbur was in Europe. I know that the two never flew together, in case of an accident (one would be able to carry on). But the brothers were so close and could do their best work and repairs if they were together. Maybe it was the fact that so many people and they thought divide and conquer would be the best strategy.

If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

            The first question I would ask Orville and Wilbur would be: Is Alexander Graham Bell your friend or foe? I would ask this because when the brothers were becoming more and more successful with their flight demonstrations they began to attract a lot of people’s attention, and one of those people was Alexander Graham Bell. Bell was very interested in flight and started taking measurements of the Flyer’s wing when Orville was in the hospital.

            My second questions would be for Orville: How did you feel when President Roosevelt wanted to take a ride in the flyer with you before and after the flight? This would be a very interesting question to ask because it President Roosevelt was denied the flight by Orville and coincidentally the Flyer did crash. The passenger who took the president’s place, Lieutenant Selfridge, did die from his injuries. I want to know if he was nervous, excited, or indifferent. 

For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

            I think the brother’s loved and valued hard work as it was a big part of their lives. Even from a young age Orville and Wilbur shared an entrepreneurial spirit. Orville, in high school, started a print shop and created a newspaper, West Side News. Wilbur wrote for the paper. The book mentions that the two had “unity of purpose and unyielding determination. They had set themselves on a ‘mission’”. I can relate to this because when there is something I want to accomplish I am always on a mission to get it down. I love to try my best when I comes to different activities because I like to know that I wasn’t holding back and I left everything out on the table.