Wright Brothers

A Biography

By: FRED C. KELLY

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Paperback | 1 July 1989

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This authorized account has long been considered the definitive biography. Well documented, highly readable, and free of technical details, it describes boyhood interests, Kitty Hawk, first powered flights, and more. 16 photographs. In this fascinating, highly readable biography, Fred C. Kelly, a former newspaperman, author, and an old friend of the Wrights, tells the story of the two brilliant, dedicated, flight-obsessed bicycle mechanics from Ohio who first realized mankind's age-old dream of conquering the skies. Long considered the definitive Wright biography (the manuscript was read and approved by Orville Wright), this book recounts the Wrights' small-town boyhood, their early interest in all things mechanical, the establishment of the Wright Cycle Shop, and the complete behind-the-scenes story of how they designed, built, tested, and flew (December 1903) the first "Flyer." Enhanced with sixteen rare photographs, Mr. Kelly's engaging account avoids minute technical description, yet describes simply and clearly the technological innovations that enabled the two brothers to succeed where so many others had failed. Anyone interested in the mechanics of flight or early aviation will find this volume a splendid introduction to the Wright brothers and their epochal achievement.

Industry Reviews

The authorized biography of our unostentatious inventors, whose pioneering in heavier than air flying machines aroused only American incredulity, and earned them the title of "Flyers or Liars". It is entertaining, as well as instructive, reading, for the picture of Fred and Orville, as boys, with their mechanical aptitudes, their curiosity and original thinking, represents so large a section of American boyhood, and the ensuing pursuit of their dream of man's ability to fly embodies so thoroughly the "If at first you don't succeed" precept. From their bicycle business, when they were grown, to their earliest experiments and discoveries, at Kitty Hawk, to their growing list of problems to be conquered, and the unexcited acceptance of their flights at the Huffman pasture, their recognition in Europe before the United States was willing to admit their successful conclusion of long years of trial and error, this makes excellent reading of early aviation history, for man or boy. The emphasis necessary is placed on the long hours of laboratory work, of kite, glider and wind tunnel contributions, of modesty that befits the first birdmen, of the business complications, of the training of pilots, of uncomfortable relations with the U.S. Army. A sympathetic, well-rounded ploture of the man who first flew, forty years ago. (Kirkus Reviews)

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