For the first reading reflection, I chose the Wright Brothers by David McCullough due to the fact that my idea is based on a device that will aid pilots.
What surprised me the most about the Wright brothers was there relentless work ethic and their consistency of character. Throughout the entire book, there were several mentions of the brothers humility, values, and abstinence from drinking or smoking. I was also surprised by the fact that neither of them ever married and that Wilbur died at such a young age of 45 years old.
The work ethic of the brothers was one of the key themes throughout the reading. Working hard in their newspaper business, transitioning to a bicycle shop, and then experimenting with aviation, they always were trying to be the best at what they did. Self-funding and refusing financing from wealthy supporters, the brothers prided themselves on their ability to work hard and make it on their own. They embodied the iconic image of an industrial man in 20th century America. Greeted with constant failure, subject to the harshest criticisms, and faced with injury and deaths, the brothers would never give up. That is what I most admired about them.
The least admirable quality I found with the brothers was they were always so high strung and so private. It would be really interesting to get to see more into their personal lives and who they were around friends, but there isn't too much to know there because they were always guarded.
The Wrights encountered extreme failure throughout their entire lives. I wish I had counted how many times they had a glider or plane broken while being shipped, due to a crash, or due to chance events like a piston-head exploding. Orville was nearly killed in a crash at Fort Myer, Virginia and an army lieutenant was killed in that same crash. They were scolded and referred to as fools. Even when they had succeeded in flight, the US government wouldn't even attempt to come and see what they had accomplished to help further their progress. They just kept working anyways. Even after being shut down and called liars, they never quit and improved their machines and took to Europe and became celebrities. It took nearly four years before the world took notice that the brothers had achieved flight.
The Wrights never went to or graduated college. They were, however, skilled in crafting and mechanical handiwork. They were also competent readers and were adamant about learning anything they could. If they needed to add something to their plane, (motors and propellers) they read everything they could on the subject to be able to craft and utilize it. They were incredible researchers and adept at applying what they learned to their work.
The part of the reading that confused me the most was that it took so long for people to take notice of what was going on. The Wright brothers had flown in 1903, and were conducting flights for almost four years before their achievements began to be realized. The government of their country had seen pictures and testimonies of the flights and yet were too stubborn to investigate it.
I would ask if Wilbur had any idea where he expected aviation to be 40 years in the future. Orville was able to see the advancements of Jet technology through World War II, but Wilbur died before any major breakthroughs. I would want to know what his thoughts on future innovation would be. I would also ask if one of them would like me to take them flying in a modern airplane.
Their opinion of hard work was that it was necessary and honorable, and it was part of their every day lives. I like to think I agree with that, but I don't necessarily always live by it as they did.
