The Published Writings of Wilbur and Orville Wright (Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series) [Hardcover]

Wilbur Wright (Author), Orville Wright (Author), Peter L. Jakab (Editor), Rick Young (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1560989386 | ISBN-13: 978-1560989387 | Publication Date: May 2000 | Edition: 1ST

For the first time nearly seventy of Wilbur and Orville Wright's published writings are brought together in a single, annotated reference. Spanning the decades from the brothers' turn-of-the-century experiments with gliders until Orville's death in 1948, the articles describe the design of their aircraft, early test flights, and camp life at Kitty Hawk. Because Wilbur's sudden death in 1912 ended any hope that the Wrights would produce a book of their own, the articles collected in this volume are their only published words.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Nearly 70 technical and popular articles, speeches, interviews, letters, and other writing by the brothers span from their experiments with gliders at the beginning of the 20th-century to Orville’s death in 1948. . . . Jakab, a curator of early aviation at the National Air and Space Museum, and Young, with the Wright Experience organization . . . annotate the material thoroughly.”—Book News --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Peter L. Jakab is curator of early aviation at the National Air and Space Museum and the author of Visions of a Flying Machine: The Wright Brothers and the Process of Invention (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1990). He lives in Virginia.

Rick Young is co-founder of the Wright Experience, an organization that researches, designs, constructs, and tests reproductions of the Wright brothers' aircraft. He also lives in Virginia. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian; 1ST edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560989386
• ISBN-13: 978-1560989387
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,235,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Published Writings of Wilbur and Orville Wright, January 18, 2011

By 

Mr.Bill - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Published Writings of Wilbur and Orville Wright (Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series) (Hardcover)

An excellent collection of thoughts and plans on how the Wright Brothers
succeded in the conquest of the sky.
It is as if you are with them one hundred and ten years ago.
Now you will know the "Rest of the Story"!!!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reconstructing History, April 8, 2002

By 

Gerald R. Conover (Celina, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Published Writings of Wilbur and Orville Wright (Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series) (Hardcover)

If you are studying Wright Fliers for the first time, or are an avid consumer of aviation history, this book will do wonders for your understandings of the Wright Brothers and their time in history. If you have already read Kelly, McFarland, and Crouch, you will find a new and revitalized interest.
Jakab and Young combine their talents and knowledge of aviation history to weave a few new bits of enlightening knowledge. Their explanations and corrections, that they cite, show that they have put a great deal of time into "getting a few things straight". They do a really nice job of tactfully showing the errors in other publications, giving credit where credit is due and help to put things in a proper light. You will enjoy the ride.