Ask an Explainer
Q:
In the old days when the Wright brothers made the wooden airplanes, were there engines on it? Was it controlled by the brothers?
A:
The very first aircraft made by the Wright brothers was the 1903 Wright Flyer, and it did have an engine, though not the jet engines used by modern aircraft. Their engine was designed to partially be made of aluminum (so it would be very lightweight), and had about 12 horsepower, which is about the same as a modern lawnmower. Their engines powered the propellers on the plane.
As for control, the brothers did indeed control their plane! They would lay down in a cradle next to the engine, and they could pull a series of wires or levers to move the rudder or the elevator, or to warp the wings of the airplane.
Posted on June 24, 2013 at 10:01 am
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