Please join us this coming Monday, January 7, 2013, for the next meeting of the Huffman Prairie Aviation Historical Society, when Les Garber will present “The Wright Brothers Make a Lucky Mistake” (view announcement flyer PDF).
Garber has provided the following introduction to his presentation, which will use models and examples to entertain and explain one facet of the Wright Brothers’ engineering talent:
Most Wright Brothers biographies emphasize the human story, not their engineering and mathematical solutions to the problems of lift, drag, thrust, power, stability, and control. This presentation gives one example of their engineering talents using high school physics and mathematics.
The Wright Brothers’ lucky mistake was this: Initially they incorrectly used Otto Lilienthal’s test wing data to design their 1900 and 1901 gliders. It would prove to be a lucky mistake.
The meeting and presentation will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center at 2380 Memorial Road (intersection of State Route 444 and Kauffman Road), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. There is ample free parkinge, and light refreshments will be provided.