Year: 1901

May 12. In a letter to Octave Chanute, Wilbur tells of plans for further experiments at Kitty Hawk in September and October and of proposed changes in their new glider. He invites Chanute to visit them at their camp.

June 26 - 27. First meeting with Octave Chanute, authority on aerial navigation, occurs when he visits Wrights in Dayton.

July. Wilbur’s articles “Angle of Incidence” published in the Aeronautical Journal, and “Die Wagerechte Lage Wahrend des Gleitfluges,” published in the Illustrierte Aeronautishe Mitteilungen, are the first aeronautical writings of the brothers to appear in print.

July 7. Wrights start for Kitty Hawk, arriving there July 0.

July 9. Storm demolishes Wright 1900 glider, which was left at Kitty Hawk at the conclusion of experiments there in August 1900.

July 18. On recommendation of Chanute, for whom he was building a glider, Edward C. Huffaker of Chuckey City, Tenn., joins Wrights at Kitty Hawk to test Chanute glider, remaining until August 18.

            Huffaker had worked in the Smithsonian Institution as an assistant to Samuel P. Langley in his aeronautical work from 1895 to 1899.

July 25. George A. Spratt, of Coatesville, Pa., on recommendation of Chanute joins Wrights at Kitty Hawk and participates in their activities until his departure August 16.

            Spratt was recommended by Chanute because of his interest in aeronautics and because his medical training might be needed in the event of injury to the Wrights in the isolated area used to carry out their experiments.

July 27. Wright 1901 glider assembled and tried for the first time.

            Between 50 and 100 flights are made in 1901, ranging in distance from 20 feet to nearly 400 feet, which many covering 300 feet or more.

August 4 – 11. Chanute visits Wrights at Kill Devil Hill and witnesses some of their gliding experiments.

August 20. Wrights leave Kitty Hawk, arriving home in Dayton August 22.

August 29. Chanute writes Wilbur asking him to deliver address before the Western Society of Engineers in Chicago and in reply, September 2, Wilbur accepts.

September. Wilbur and Orville share in proceeds of sale of 160-acre farm at Casey, Iowa, originally given to them by their father and jointly owned by the Wright brothers, which is sold by Reuchlin Wright.

September 18. Wilbur addresses Western Society of Engineers on Wright 1900 and 1901 gliding experiments. He compares results with those obtained by earlier investigators and indicates that previously published figures relating to air pressures on curved surfaces appeared to be in error. Before the lecture, entitled “Some Aeronautical Experiments,” Wilbur is entertained by Chanute at his home I Chicago and views his study room and collection of models of flying machines.

October 6. Wrights conduct tests of model airfoils mounted on a bicycle wheel placed horizontally at front of one their bicycles.

September – November. Wrights design single-cylinder, 4-stroke-cycle, stationary powerplant, which was utilized in construction engine and airplane parts from 1902 through 1908 and for determining the power output of their early flight engines.

The engine was restored under the direction of Charles Taylor and installed April 16, 1938, in Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Mich., together with the shop machinery it operated.

October – December. Wrights conduct further tests of airfoils with wind tunnel and pressure-testing balances of their own design, becoming the first investigators to compile tables of figures from which it was possible to design an airplane that would fly.

December. Wilbur’s Chicago speech of September 18 printed in the Journal of the Western Society of Engineers.

Few other articles on the subject of flight have been so frequently reprinted or widely quoted.