Transcript

The Wright Brothers | Coming Down to Earth | American History Tellers | Podcast

From American History Tellers · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 38 min · 6,450 words · 42 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "The Wright Brothers | Coming Down to Earth | American History Tellers | Podcast", an episode of American History Tellers published January 15, 2025 (38 min, about 6,450 words). It mentions 18 people, works and ideas, including Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, American History Tellers, Wright Company, Glenn Curtis.

What this episode is about

The narrative focuses on the Wright brothers' groundbreaking flying demonstrations in France in 1908, highlighting their struggle for recognition amid skepticism from the press and public. It captures a pivotal moment when a reporter questions one of the brothers about the changing perception of their achievements and their confidence in continuing to innovate despite emerging competition.

Key takeaways

  • The Wright brothers showcased that skepticism fuels innovation; doubters can become advocates when shown undeniable proof.
  • Secrecy can stifle recognition; the Wrights learned that visibility is key to transforming doubt into admiration.
  • Amidst competition, the Wrights proved that consistency and control trump novelty; it’s not just about flying, but mastering flight.
  • The media's fickle nature: yesterday's doubters can swiftly become today's fans—just ask the Wright brothers about their journey.
  • In an era of rapid invention, patent battles highlight that protecting ideas can be as crucial as inventing them.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: American History Tellers, Wilbur Wright, Kittyhawk, Curtis Wayne Wright
  2. – 10:00: Ernest Archdeacon, Orville Wright, Glenn Curtis, Aerial Experiment Association
  3. – 15:00: Aerial Experiment Association, Thomas Selfridge, Orville Wright
  4. – 20:00: Wilbur Wright, Curtis Wayne Wright, Congressional Medals of Honor, Thomas Selfridge
  5. – 25:00: Glenn Curtis, Wilbur Wright, Curtis Wayne Wright
  6. – 30:00: Curtis Wayne Wright, Huffman Prairie, Wilbur Wright, Glenn Curtis
  7. – 35:00: Curtis Wayne Wright, Kittyhawk, Orville Wright, Glenn Curtis
  8. – 38:16: American History Tellers, Birdman, Orville Wright, Glenn Curtis

Notable quotes from "The Wright Brothers | Coming Down to Earth | American History Tellers | Podcast"

  • Machine and dared them to carry out their experiments in broad daylight but Wilbur's demonstrations in August and September of 1908 were irrefutable proof that the rights were…
    about Wilbur Wright · at
  • About this Sage fellow well for starters he belongs to the aerial experiment Association they started up last year with Glen Curtis and others Wilbur and I have been worried…
    about Aerial Experiment Association · at
  • Line he was in no position to refuse the request so just past 5:00 p.m. on September 17th Orville reluctantly allowed Selfridge to climb into the seat beside him they took off…
    about Orville Wright · at
  • An Italian Syndicate too while those contracts were being negotiated though the rights began planning to return to Virginia to complete the trials for the US Army signal Corps…
    about Glenn Curtis · at
  • Canoe under the plane to act as a pontoon in case of a water landing a month later the brothers incorporated the right company with offices in New York Wilbur would serve as…
    about Wright Company · at
  • Dayton on May 30th 1912 he was 45 years old in his diary that day his father Bishop Wright wrote that Wilbur had lived a short life full of consequences an unfailing intellect…
    about Curtis Wayne Wright · at
  • Shuttle in 1998 yet another tribute to Humanity's First Steps toward the heavens and to the days when two brothers from Dayton dared to lift an aircraft from the Sandy Bluff of North Carolina and soar into to the.
    about Kittyhawk · at
  • Brothers we recommend the rri brothers by David McCulla and Birdman by Lawrence Goldstone American history tellers is hosted edited and produced by Me Lindsey Graham for…
    about American History Tellers · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Wilbur Wright — Person · Referenced historical figure (primary protagonist) · 5 mentions · first at
    Central figure in the episode’s narrative: his 1908–1909 European demonstrations, safety/reputation recovery after the 1908 crash, and later patent battles shape the episode’s arc.
  • Orville Wright — Person · Referenced historical figure (primary protagonist) · 4 mentions · first at
    Co-central figure: conducts U.S. Army trials at Fort Myer, survives the 1908 crash that kills Selfridge, and later continues demonstrations and patent enforcement efforts.
  • Glenn Curtis — Person · Referenced competitor / antagonist in patent conflict · 6 mentions · first at
    Portrayed as a major rival whose aileron-equipped aircraft trigger the Wrights’ key patent infringement lawsuits and broader industry backlash.
  • Thomas Selfridge — Person · Referenced military evaluator / crash victim · 4 mentions · first at
    His ride with Orville during Army trials ends in the fatal 1908 crash, a pivotal event affecting the Wrights’ reputation and the Army contract timeline.
    His brother in France it was up to Orville to meet the terms of the Army's contract one member of that Army Board was lieutenant Thomas Selfridge an aviation Enthusiast who…
  • Curtis Wayne Wright — Person · Referenced family member / moral voice · 12 mentions · first at
    Identified as the Wrights’ father (Milton Wright), appearing as a concerned advisor during Orville’s 1908 pressures and later giving public invocations and diary reflections on Wilbur’s death.
  • Leon de Grange — Person · Referenced contemporary aviator (benchmark/foil) · 4 mentions
    Used as a comparison point for public perception: his 18-minute flight record and later admission that the Wrights were superior underscore the Wrights’ earlier under-recognized achievements.
    Three of our three-part series on the rri brothers coming down to earth in June of 1908 the French pilot Leon deange managed to stay aoft in a french-built aircraft for 18…
  • David McCullough — Person · Referenced author (recommended reading) · 4 mentions
    Mentioned in the episode’s closing recommendations as the author of a suggested Wright brothers biography, positioning him as a supporting expert source.

Books & papers

  • Birdman — Book · Referenced work · 2 mentions · first at
    Birdman is another book recommended for understanding the Wright brothers' story, particularly their legal battles with Glenn Curtiss.
    Including Birdman the R Brothers Glenn Curtis and the battle to control the skies we'll discuss Orville and Wilbur wri's fixation with patenting their technology and their relationship to other aviators.
  • David McCullough — Book · Referenced work · 1 mention · first at
    David McCullough's book is recommended for further reading about the Wright brothers, indicating its relevance and authority on the subject.
    If you'd like to learn more about the R Brothers we recommend the rri brothers by David McCulla and Birdman by Lawrence Goldstone American history tellers is hosted edited and produced by Me Lindsey Graham for Airship audio editing by.

Companies & orgs

  • Wright Company — Company · Business focus · 4 mentions
    The Wright Company was founded by the Wright brothers to manufacture and sell their airplanes, marking their transition from inventors to businessmen.
  • Aerial Experiment Association — Company · Competitor · 3 mentions · first at
    The Aerial Experiment Association was a group of aviators, including Glenn Curtiss, who were seen as competitors by the Wright brothers, leading to legal battles over patent infringements.
  • Scientific American Magazine — Company · Media · 1 mention · first at
    Scientific American Magazine sponsored a contest won by Glenn Curtiss, highlighting the competitive environment the Wright brothers faced in aviation.

Places & events

  • Kittyhawk — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at
    The location where the Wright brothers conducted their early flights.
  • Congressional Medals of Honor — Event · Award · 1 mention · first at
    The Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded to the Wright brothers by President Taft, recognizing their groundbreaking contributions to aviation.
    France on June 10th 1909 after a brief Homecoming in Dayton the rights traveled to Washington DC where President Taft of fellow Ohan awarded them Congressional Medals of Honor…
  • Huffman Prairie — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at
    A field near Dayton, Ohio, where the Wright brothers conducted flight tests.
    Generation of pilots in addition to a training and testing facility at Huffman Prairie they opened a wintertime flight school in Montgomery Alabama and helped establish a US…
  • National Aviation Day — Event · Commemoration · 1 mention · first at
    National Aviation Day was established to honor Orville Wright's birthday, celebrating the advancements in aviation he and his brother achieved.
    To Aviation continued to receive recognition and acclaim in 1939 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued a presidential Proclamation designating orel's birthday August 19th…

Media & podcasts

  • American History Tellers — Media · Host · 3 mentions · first at
    American History Tellers is the podcast hosting this episode, providing the narrative and context for the Wright brothers' story.

Sponsors

  • Ernest Archdeacon — Person · Referenced skeptic-turned-supporter (promoter/critic) · 2 mentions · first at
    Represents early European skepticism: he ridicules the Wrights as a 'phantom machine' and later publicly apologizes after Wilbur’s 1908 demonstrations.
    Were the true pioneers of flight the French balloonist and Aviation promoter Ernest archdeacon had ridiculed the rights airplane as a phantom machine and dared them to carry…

Full transcript with timestamps

wondering imagine it's midday on August 21st 1908 you're a pilot and inventor from Dayton Ohio but today you're at a horse track 5 miles outside the French city of Lon since you started giving flying demonstrations here the crowds of Spectators have steadily grown l larger and the European press which had previously been skeptical of you and your brother have become enthusiastic Believers so today you're packing your equipment to move to a larger field the French army has offered but you know the Curious crowds will follow you there too so too will the eager and demanding press and in fact you notice reporter approaching right now you steal yourself for another Interruption yes may I help you I'm with the London Daily Mail may I ask you a few questions I suppose so but please make it quick I'm busy well thank you I I've been watching you fly the past few days and it's magical we've never seen

anyone fly a figure8 before you had complete control it seemed as though you could stay a loft forever you you said you had questions yes yeah I I wondered if you feel offended by the people who didn't believe you and your brother could fly you mean people like you in the Press I I suppose that's fair but but my paper never mocked or insulted you we never called you a fake or a bluffer but but we were skeptical yes uh you've proven us all wrong well if I've learned anything in all this it's that people like you are fickle one week you call my brother and I frauds and the next we're heroes what will it be tomorrow all I can do is focus on my work now you have a real question or can I get back to it fine yes um what what are you planning to do next to stay ahead of all of the other flyers are you worried about competitors well I I think French a ators like blero and the Vasan Brothers they've had moderate success

but you said it yourself when I fly I am in complete control and the others are not in my opinion no not not yet I believe it was de gr who admitted after watching one of my flights that we are beaten yes but how long can that last surely the race for dominance of the Skies is still wide open new airplanes are being designed and built every day and I and those inventions had better not infringe on the work my brother and I have already done we've labored day and night for years and we'll fight to protect our patented designs now please if you'll excuse me you've never enjoyed the Press but this reporter's questions about competitors touched a nerve after years of flying without an audience it makes you uneasy to allow so many people to see your aircraft watch to prevent another inventor from copying your Innovations you prefer to be back at Kittyhawk where you could fly without people watching but deep down you know

that if you and your brother want to begin selling your flying machines you have no choice but to keep performing before cheering crowds and dealing with nosy reporters from wondery I'm Lindsey Graham and this is American history tellers our history your story

by 1908 the R Brothers had been flying for 8 years having progressed from piloting experimental gliders to engine powerered aircraft but over this time their desire for secrecy and the refusal to allow photographs of their planes meant that very few people had seen evidence of their achievements as a result many in the press and in the scientific and Aviation communities remained skeptical refusing to believe that the right Brothers had fully conquered the air but in the summer of 1908 Wilbur Wright amazed KRA with his aerobatic flying demonstrations outside of lamal France and Weeks Later his brother Orville would demonstrate equally impressive flights at a US Army base in Virginia it seemed that the press in Europe and America were finally convinced of the brother's history-making achievement but just as their Skeptics were silenced the wri brothers would face a deadly crash and a struggle with lawsuits that

threaten their legacy this is episode three of our three-part series on the rri brothers coming down to earth in June of 1908 the French pilot Leon deange managed to stay aoft in a french-built aircraft for 18 minutes at the time a world record a month later an American motorcycle racer in Aviation Enthusiast named Glenn Curtis won a contest sponsored by Scientific American Magazine by flying one mile in an aircraft called June book the public and press considered both Del Grange and curtis' flights Great accomplishments and showered the pilots with praise Orville and will were right had already flown further and longer than any of these aviators soaring dozens of miles at a time and staying a law for nearly an hour but because of their obsession with secrecy few had witnessed their flights and their achievements had largely been kept from the public that all changed in August 1908 when Wilbur

began giving his first ever flying demonstrations at a field outside Lal France as Wilbur Rose into the sky and gave nearly Flawless aerial performances Spectators were shocked at what they witnessed until that moment the French had been convinced that their aviators were the true pioneers of flight the French balloonist and Aviation promoter Ernest archdeacon had ridiculed the rights airplane as a phantom machine machine and dared them to carry out their experiments in broad daylight but Wilbur's demonstrations in August and September of 1908 were irrefutable proof that the rights were the most accomplished flyers in the world and those that bore witness were amazed the Press raved about wiber Wright and his great white bird and even Ernest archdeacon apologized for his previous skepticism telling a reporter I feel an intense pleasure in counting myself among the first to make amends for that

flagrant Injustice for weeks Wilbur entertained thousands of Spectators in lemon and by late August crowds had grown so big that Wilbur accepted an invitation from a local military commander and moved to a larger field at an army camp nearby Hart Berg the rright brother sales agent in Europe even started charging Spectators for tickets as more and more people rushed to witness the thrilling flights and to capitalize further on these successful demonstrations Wilbur agreed to stay in France through the fall of 19 way to generate more publicity for prospective buyers in Europe that prevented him from returning home to give flying demonstrations for US Army officials who were also interested in buying the brothers aircraft so Orville would have to make these flights alone and his first ever public demonstrations would be in front of large crowds that included Military Officers reporters politicians scientists and thousands of

other spectators at Fort Meyer in Virginia the flying machine that Orville would use was a rebuilt version of their 1905 model unlike earlier right machines which were flown from a prone position orval's had two upright seats one for the pilot and one for a passenger on September 3rd Orville nervously took off before a wildly cheering crowd and at first his flight looked perfect but then he veered toward a wooden hanger dropped quickly and hit the ground hard he acknowledged to reporters it shows I need a good deal of practice but Orville recovered quickly and his next few flights featured one record breaking feet after another on September 4th he flew 3 miles on September 9th he circled the field 57 times over the course of an hour surpassing his brother's Feats in France by a large margin and later that same day he took a military officer for a ride in the two-seater flying machine taking another officer Up 3 days later

the New York Times even speculated that President Theodor Roosevelt himself might fly with Orville although Orville told reporters he didn't think the President should take such chances the public the press the United States military and scientific communities the globe over were all marveling at the brother's success and so too was Orville's father Milton who traveled from Dayton to watch his son fly imagine it's September 15th 1908 you've traveled to an army base outside Washington DC to watch your youngest son fly his aircraft in the last few days he's performed a number of stun running record-breaking flights but today high winds have him grounded so you're keeping him company while he works on the engine he seems anxious and distracted oh what's wrong son you worried the president is going to walk through the door and demand a ride I doubt that's going to happen father that's just the Press speculating well

what is it then well for starters I need this machine to reach 40 mph if we want to finalize our contract with the Army U I'm getting close but it's not there yet well like your brother suggested don't let yourself get pushed into doing anything before you're ready your son throws down a wrench and anger but they are pushing me father and I've already taken two officers up with me and now another one some Selfridge wants a ride he's a member of the aeronautical board they're the ones who will decide whether the Army will buy our machines but I feel like I become a carnival ride son son what do you know about this Sage fellow well for starters he belongs to the aerial experiment Association they started up last year with Glen Curtis and others Wilbur and I have been worried that they may be trying to steal some of our ideas infringing on our patents and I don't trust any of them I'm convinced this is why Selfridge

wants a ride he's a spy but maybe he's just curious I wish it were that simple the aerial experiment Association has been developing their own planes but they've had trouble with their engines sage has been asking questions about Motors trying to find out how we do it and then he shows up when I'm having dinner trying to pump me for information but the patent you received two years ago should protect you right it should but I still don't trust him I I've heard he makes disparaging comments about me and Wilbur behind our backs trying to damage our reputation well he's hardly the only one who's been doing that but then there's the Practical aspect of it he's a he's a big guy heavier than the other two officers I took up with me well look if you want my opinion I think you've made two successful flights with other passengers and you should have no problem with this one I hope you're right without his brother by his side

your son seems more edgy and nervous than usual you have to leave tomorrow for a church conference in Indiana but you're anxious about leaving Orville on his own under all this pressure while wilburg continued to give demonstrations in France Orville had begun flying at Fort Meyer Virginia for an audience of military officials and civilian Spectators his demonstrations early September of 1908 quickly became the most celebrated flights in the history of Aviation Orville gave one amazing performance after the other repeatedly breaking records for distance and time in the air and as thousands cheered and haunted cor horns Orville stayed a loft for a full hour at a time three times longer than any of France's revered aviators and after reading about his younger brother's achievements Wilbur called Orville a champion skyscraper pra from his brother meant a lot but Orville's real audience was the

five- member review board for the US Army signal Corps which would determine whether the Army would buy one of the rights machines in February of 1908 the rights had signed a preliminary contract with the army that would be worth up to $25,000 if they met certain conditions first they had to demonstrate their aircraft's capabilities before the review board achieving specific milestones for Speed altitude and distance and fly with a passenger with his brother in France it was up to Orville to meet the terms of the Army's contract one member of that Army Board was lieutenant Thomas Selfridge an aviation Enthusiast who also belonged to the aerial experiment Association that had been founded in the summer of 1907 by the inventor Alexander Graham Bell it was known as the aea or informally as Bell's boys members of this group were trying to catch up to the R Brothers who continued to worry about competitors

stealing their ideas and amid this tense atmosphere Selfridge asked Orville to take him for a ride orl distrusted Selfridge and his motives but with an army contract on the line he was in no position to refuse the request so just past 5:00 p.m. on September 17th Orville reluctantly allowed Selfridge to climb into the seat beside him they took off without incident and made a few circles around the field reaching 40 mph but then as the plane neared Arlington Cemetery a piece of one of the propellers broke off and severed a tension wire that connected the wing to the tail Orville heard a strange tapping and two loud thumps then the plane began to shake from 125 ft in the air it tilted into a dive Orville was unable to pull out and the plane spiraled smashing into the ground Orville later described feeling like a bird shot dead in full flight bystanders rushed to pull the bloodied men from the wreckage they were both

placed on stretchers and rushed to the hospital self died that night of a fractured skull Orville had survived but his injuries were serious he had a fractured leg dislocated hip and four broken ribs hearing news of the disaster Orville's sister Catherine rushed to Washington and stayed with her brother for weeks while he recovered despite his life-threatening injuries Orville's confidence was seemingly unshaken when a visiting friend asked if the crash had wrecked his nerves Orville scoffed nerve oh do you mean will I be afraid to fly again the only thing I'm afraid of is that I can't get well soon enough to finish those tests next year the crash had postponed the Army's decision about whether to buy the R's flying machine but the brothers hoped to be able to continue their demonstrations in 1909 after orbal had recovered meanwhile Wilbur was still in Europe when he learned about his brother's crash he was

devastated and blamed himself for leaving his brother to make the high stakes demonstrations alone he also knew that with this crash and the death of a passenger their contract and their dreams of financial success were in

Peril after learning of his brother Orville's disastrous crash Wilbur Wright was more determined than ever to prove that their planes were safe and that the deadly crash in Virginia was only a fluke So within days he was flying again climbing into the air every chance he got on December 31st after flying more than 75 mil in 2 hours and 18 minutes Wilbur won the 1908 Michelin cup a prize worth 20,000 Franks equal roughly to $100,000 today this flight and others he undertook with passengers through late 1908 managed to keep the right's reputation intact Wilbur wrote to his sister Catherine how princes and millionaires as thick as fleas come to see him in his airplane encour by the reception in Europe in January of 1909 Catherine and Orville joined Wilbur in France still limping from his crash Orville had to use a cane to walk as the three right siblings toured Europe for more of Wilbur's flying demonstrations

despite the death of Thomas Selfridge months earlier Wilbur began taking passengers in the air with him sometimes five or six a day he also set more records won more prizes and accolades and even gave lessons to other French Flyers on February 15th at a field in the south of France Wilbur took up his sister Katherine for her first ever flight she would fly with him two more times in the months ahead setting a record for flying longer and farther than any American woman meanwhile Orville watched quietly as his brother and sister flew he told reporters he hoped to fly again soon but often seemed glum to be sidelined even as he and his siblings gained wider Fame and recognition the rights met with Millionaires and royalty including the kings of Spain England and Italy Catherine was amazed that after so many years working alone and in private her brothers had become celebrities remarking that every time we make a move

the people on the street stop and stare at us next the rights visited Rome where Wilbur made 50 flights gave rides to more passengers trained Italian Military Officers to fly and gave lectures one of his passengers was a cameraman who made the first ever film shot from an airplane AAR result of these successful flights negotiations with French and German buyers continued and the brothers flying machine attracted interest from an Italian Syndicate too while those contracts were being negotiated though the rights began planning to return to Virginia to complete the trials for the US Army signal Corps which had granted a one-year contract extension after Orville's crash in 1908 by the time the rights returned home in May of 1909 Wilbur had spent more than a year in Europe during that time he had flown longer farther and faster than any other pilot he and Orville had also come home $200,000

richer thanks to prize money he'd earned in various flying contests and from preliminary sales of right flyer planes to France on June 10th 1909 after a brief Homecoming in Dayton the rights traveled to Washington DC where President Taft of fellow Ohan awarded them Congressional Medals of Honor for what he called their great step in human Discovery a week later thousands of people visited Dayton for a two-day celebration of the rri brother's accomplishments their father Bishop Wright gave an invocation in which he praised his son for daring to dream of an invention hither to deemed impracticable cleaving the air like a bird after soaking in the praise and Dayton the brothers traveled back to Washington to complete the flight trials for the Army on June 29th as senators and military officials gathered to watch Orville turned to the air for the first time since the terrible crash that resulted in Thomas SD's death he got off

to a shaky start he had to cut his first flight short due to engine problems and on his next flight he made a hard Landing nearly skidding into a tree but finally after a twoe delay to repair the wings Orville took off again on July 12th and stayed a loft without incident to the cheers of eager crowds the brothers stayed in DC for another month to make endurance flights and other tests as required by the Army Orville also again flew with passengers soaring for more than an hour and at speeds of 40 mph at one point President Taft sat among the 8,000 Spectators and when the trials ended on July 30th the rights were finally awarded a $30,000 contract from the war department which included bonuses for surpassing the Army's minimum requirements but at the same time other aviators were making their own advances on July 25th while the rights were still in DC they received word that French Aviator Lou blero had

flown a monoplane across the English Channel from Cal France to do England covering 23 miles of Open Water a month later the first International Air Races were held in ream France the rights declined to participate so the race was won by American motorcycle racer and Aviator Glenn Curtis who set a new speed record by averaging 46 mph but rather than celebrate Curtis's accomplishment the right brother sued him for patent infringement alleging he had stolen their wing design Wilbur and Orval remained determined to defend their inventions even if it meant going to battle with fellow aviators imagine it's September 28 1909 on Governor's Island in New York Harbor you're at a hanger to work on the airplane you're planning to fly over New York City tomorrow you've just returned from France where you set a new speed record the Press has been comparing your recent success to those of the R Brothers which is good news for the

company you and your partner recently formed you have plans to start manufacturing your own airplanes but when you arrived you noticed that Wilbur Wright was working in the hanger beside yours despite the fact that he and his brother recently sued you you reluctantly walk over to greet him well hello Wilbur I I knew you'd be flying in this weekend's event but I I didn't expect they put our hangers side by side you reach out to shake Wilbur's hand but he pulls back sorry my hands are a bit greasy with engine oil congratulations on your success at ream 46 mph it's quite impressive 46 and2 but than thank you yeah coming from you honestly that means a lot well I'm sure it helped that your plane had the benefit of our patented designs for lateral control I assume you received the paperwork from our lawyers ah yeah yeah and I must say I was surprised you filed two lawsuits against me you and your brother come at

me with both barrels I had hoped we might work out our differences we gave you a chance to do that earlier this year you could have paid us a licensing fee those so-called aerons that you've added to your wings are a blatant infringement on our 1906 patent well that that's just simply not true Orville we invented our little wings as we call them specifically to avoid violating your patent calling it a different name doesn't change a thing our patent covers all techniques that mimic our method of controlling the lateral movement in the air we call it Wing warping you call it ailerons but it's the same and it's our technology well I guess we'll just have to wait and let the courts decide you've already sold your first airplane which means you've already profited from our ideas and I have no doubt the courts will rule in our favor when they do I'll be happy to see your Aircraft Company go out of business now if you'll excuse me

I have work to do you watch Orwell turn back to his aircraft you leave and walk glumly back to your hanger you used to feel a sort of kinship with the rght brothers a sense that you were all part of the same rarified Club of Flyers now though you can't help but feel that the rights have become obsessed with making money and will go out of their way to crush any perceived competitors in the summer of 1909 the R Brothers filed the first in a series of lawsuits in the United States and Europe against competitors they believed had infringed on their patented aircraft designs and these legal battles quickly began to occupy more and more of the rights brother's time and energy their initial Target was Glenn Curtis and his partner Augustus Herring who had formed the Herring Curtis Company earlier in 1909 they began making airplanes whose wings featured flaps called ailerons designed to control their planes side to

side or lateral movement such as rolling and banking similar to the wing warping technique the RS had earlier patented the RS had been suspicious of Curtis for years in 1906 the same year they received their patent for Wing Waring Curtis had had written to them offering to sell them a lightweight engine he'd built they declined but when Curtis was in Dayton later that year they did agree to meet with him during his visit the right showed him photographs of their earlier airplanes while he peppered them with technical questions about their wings and engines then in 1909 Wilbur learned about Curtis's new planes and their aileron flaps he wrote to Curtis and insisted that he pay license fees to the rights for the use of their technology but Curtis refused triggering a legal fight that would last for years and then only weeks after the lawsuits were filed Wilbur and Curtis briefly crossed paths as they prepared to be

part of a two-e maritime celebration along New York's Hudson River in an embarrassing turn of evance Curtis was forced to leave the event early when he found his airplane did not have enough power to handle the Gusty winds around the harbor but Wilbur had no such problem on September 28th a million people watched Wilbur fly over New York Harbor around the statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River since he had never flown over water before he came up with an Innovative new feature mounting a 14t canoe under the plane to act as a pontoon in case of a water landing a month later the brothers incorporated the right company with offices in New York Wilbur would serve as president and Orville vice president their investors included two of the biggest names in finance JP Morgan and Cornelius Vanderbilt next they broke ground on a manufacturing plant and Dayton and for the first time the brothers would

conduct business somewhere else other than their bicycle shop they were finally ready to start manufacturing airplanes for customers and making real money but they remained determined to protect their invention in January of 1910 a judge issued a preliminary ruling in the rights favor in the lawsuit against Glenn Curtis and his company Curtis appealed and the case dragged on but even though they won the first round in court the right's longtime friend octave shenut thought it was a mistake for them to have gone after an American hero like Curtis he warned that other flyers might turn against them and that lawsuits were not in the best interest of aviation in a letter to Wilbur in early 1910 shenut wrote I'm afraid my friend that your usually sound judgment has been warped by the desire for great wealth Wilbur tried to repair the strain on their friendship writing to Shin to profess my brother and I do not form

many intimate friendships and I do not lightly give them up but the Rift never fully healed and shanut would die later that year at age 78 but all through the personal and legal battles of 1910 the rights never stopped flying by now they learned that flying exhibitions were good for business they also wanted to establish a flight training school so on May 25th they invited members of the Aeroplane Club of Dayton and the general public out to Huffman Prairie to see oral fly nearly 3,000 people watched him perform acrobatic moves including flying to to a record altitude of 2720 ft over half a mile Spectators then watch Wilbur climb into the passenger seat beside his brother they had never flown together their father had prohibited it fearful of losing both sons in a crash but now seated side by side with Orville at the controls they flew above their Hometown for the first and only time but there was another

first to come the Wright brother's 82-year-old father Milton had agreed to fly Orville and mil took off and as Father and Son soared 350 ft above Huffman Prairie the bishop yelled higher Orville higher rights were at the peak of their Aviation careers but soon the stress of mounting legal battles began to take a toll on Wilbur and the brothers longtime partnership risked being torn apart

in 1910 Orville and Wilbur Wright's various business Endeavors were taking off and they began training the next generation of pilots in addition to a training and testing facility at Huffman Prairie they opened a wintertime flight school in Montgomery Alabama and helped establish a US Army flying Center in College Park Maryland they also created the right exhibition team whose Pilots would perform aerial shows but over the next year acrimonious lawsuits and patent fights took up more time and energy these legal battles limited the brother's ability to innovate further and French flyers and airplane manufacturers began to take the lead in the Aerospace industry by 1911 European companies were manufacturing aircraft that were safer and faster than the right Flyers over the next several years the rights continued battling for aeronautical Supremacy they would file nine lawsuits in all and were sued

themselves three times they would eventually win every case but this validation of their contributions came at a steep cost as Wilbur wrote to a friend when we think what we might have accomplished if we had been able to devote this time to experiments we feel very sad in May of 1912 worn down by his constant travels to hearings and meetings with lawyers Wilbur fell ill during a business trip to Boston he was soon diagnosed with typhoid fever the same disease that had Afflicted orille 16 years earlier so Wilbur's brother Orville his father and his sister took turns sitting by by Wilbur's side just as he had tended to oral during his illness when he was young but despite his family's care Wilbur died at home in Dayton on May 30th 1912 he was 45 years old in his diary that day his father Bishop Wright wrote that Wilbur had lived a short life full of consequences an unfailing intellect imperturbable

temper great self-reliance and great modesty letters flowers and condolences poured into the right's home and 25,000 people at intended Wilbur's viewing in the background Orville quietly suffered the loss of his brother and closest friend Bishop Wright wrote that both Orville and Katherine suffered his loss most they say little Wilbur's death also left Orville alone to tend to the rising tide of competition to their business and their protracted patent lawsuits and within two years disaster would strike several right Plaines had have been sold to the US Army crashed killing the pilots so by 1913 the US military pulled back from doing business with the wri company turning instead to French airplanes one bright spot came in 1914 when a court upheld the earlier verdict against Glenn Curtis but by 1915 Orville had tired of the whole business he sold his company which in 1916 merged with another founded by aviation pioneer

Glenn Martin to become the right Martin Aircraft Company seeking to recapture the days when he and his brother worked quietly above their bicycle shop Orville created a new workshop and laboratory a few blocks from the old one there he turned his attention to conducting experiments on airplane Parts including work on an aerial bomb called the bug that could fly Behind Enemy Lines in Warfare an early version of a drone then in April of 1917 Orville's father Bishop Wright died at the age of 88 a year later Orville made his final flight and after years of supporting her brothers Katherine Wright married and moved to Kansas City she would die of pneumonia in 192 9 in the decades since their first successful flight at Kittyhawk the rri brothers had revolutionized the Art and Science of human flight they also inspired future generations of aviators in 1927 Charles Lindberg flew his Spirit of St Louis plane from New York to Paris

becoming the first Aviator to cross the Atlantic when he returned home he went out of his way to visit Dayton and pay his respects to Orville as an elder Statesman of the AV ation Community Orville still made public appearances from time to time and in 1928 he traveled back to Kittyhawk for the 25th anniversary of Wilbur's first powered flight he also made an appearance at an Aeronautics conference in Washington DC but by 1930 he had become something of a recluse that didn't stop the Press from continuing to seek him out though imagine as a cloudy September afternoon in 1930 you're in the office behind your house on North Broadway in downtown Dayton Ohio you wince as another drop of water falls from a leak in the ceiling caused by recent heavy rain today you're meeting with a magazine writer who's come to talk about the bygone days of your first flights with Wilbur the reporter seem surprised

you even agreed to meet and in fact you're surprised yourself you normally hate to have anything written about you but this young man was persistent he still has an eager look in his eye as he Peppers you with more questions so so for the last several years you avoided the spotlight pretty much dodging cameras and interviews what what made you decide to meet with me well to be honest I'm not certain I I'm I'm most comfortable in my own company these days has it always been the case is is that why you're never married I guess you could say I was married to my work my brother too by now you've won every honor imaginable but with your brother and sister gone you have no one to share your success with don't you want the world to know who you are and what you contributed H I'm um I I take great pride in what my brother and I achieved I just hate having to talk about it I guess that's why I never wrote an

autobiography or anything it's like my brother once said the only Birds who talk are parrots and they are not birds of high flight well speaking of high flight I I understand you still have back pain from your crash in ' 08 that was quite the tumble you think air travel today is safer I think there are still too many accidents too many Daredevils lose their lives in airplanes better pilot training is is definitely needed okay interesting but tell me what's been the greatest thrill for you all these years h i i I only ever had one thrill in aviation when the idea of achieving flight first came to me as a small Sleepless boy the reporter looks surprised as he scribbles this remark in his notebook your eyes narrow on the small pool of water accumulating in the corner of the room I I I you know I'm sorry I'm I'm suddenly pretty tired and I think it's time I said goodby by I also have that leak to attend to and and then some male

any disort as you get up and escort him to the door you thought you might show the reporter some of the Innovations you crafted around the house but now your back is hurting and you just want to be left alone again he seems too focused on the past and that's not someplace you prefer to spend your time these days as Orville Wright reached his 60s he mostly withdrew from the aviation community and from the public except for attending the unveiling of a wri memorial at Kill Devil Hill in 1932 he spent his time at his modest Home and Office in Dayton but his contributions to Aviation continued to receive recognition and acclaim in 1939 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued a presidential Proclamation designating orel's birthday August 19th as National Aviation day and an aircraft carrier called the USS wri was launched in early 19 45 in further honor of the brothers during World War II oral

watched as technologically advanced airplanes played a critical and destructive role in the fighting in 1945 us and British Pilots executed an air raid on the German city of Dresden dropping thousands of bombs and killing 25,000 people later that year US aircraft dropped the first atomic weapons on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima killing tens of thousands of civilians after World War II Orville expressed regret about the devastation caused by airplanes especially the bombers that led to so Much Death and destruction he told a writer we dared to hope we had invented something that would bring lasting peace to Earth but we were wrong Orville Wright died in 1948 at age 76 he was buried beside his brother sister father and mother in the family plot at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton the R Brothers contributions to human flight remain unmatched and their legacy would endure in 1969 when Neil Armstrong another

Pioneer from Ohio set foot on the moon he carried with him a small piece of wood and fabric from the wri's 1903 flyer another Ohio Astronaut John Glenn also took pieces of the right flyer when he returned to space aboard the space shuttle in 1998 yet another tribute to Humanity's First Steps toward the heavens and to the days when two brothers from Dayton dared to lift an aircraft from the Sandy Bluff of North Carolina and soar into to the sky from wonder8 this is episode three of our three-part series on the R Brothers from American history tellers on the next episode I speak with historian Lawrence Goldstone an award-winning author of 28 books including Birdman the R Brothers Glenn Curtis and the battle to control the skies we'll discuss Orville and Wilbur wri's fixation with patenting their technology and their relationship to other aviators

if you'd like to learn more about the R Brothers we recommend the rri brothers by David McCulla and Birdman by Lawrence Goldstone American history tellers is hosted edited and produced by Me Lindsey Graham for Airship audio editing by Christian paraga sound design by Molly Bach music by Lindsey Graham this episode is written by Neil Thompson edited by Doran Marina produced by Alita rosanski managing produc producers are Desi block and Matt Gant senior managing producer Ryan lore senior producer Andy Herman and executive producers are Jenny low Beckman Marshall Louie and Aeron o FL for wandery

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "The Wright Brothers | Coming Down to Earth | American History Tellers | Podcast"?

Lindsey Graham (Host), Wilbur Wright (Guest), Orville Wright (Guest), Thomas Selfridge (Guest), Glenn Curtis (Guest), Lawrence Goldstone (Guest).

What is "The Wright Brothers | Coming Down to Earth | American History Tellers | Podcast" about?

The narrative focuses on the Wright brothers' groundbreaking flying demonstrations in France in 1908, highlighting their struggle for recognition amid skepticism from the press and public. It captures a pivotal moment when a reporter questions one of the brothers about the changing perception of their achievements and their confidence in continuing to innovate despite emerging competition.

What is mentioned in this American History Tellers episode?

18 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright, American History Tellers, Wright Company, Glenn Curtis, Thomas Selfridge. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "The Wright Brothers | Coming Down to Earth | American History Tellers | Podcast"?

The episode runs 38 min; the transcript is about 6,450 words in 42 timestamped sections.

More from American History Tellers

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.