Although modern airplane travel makes us aware of the scale of
our inventions, we often overlook
the true force which makes our
flight possible: the interaction bet-
ween air and wing. The Wright
Brothers Memorial reminds us of
this dynamic between man,
machine, and environment, as
the Wright brothers relied not only
on their technical skill, but more,
on their ability to find a relationship
with the wind. By understanding
the wind and the air, the Wright
Brothers were able to create a
subtle shift which lifted them into
the sky. This shift, first facilitated
by the angle of their glider and
carefully managed by wires, was
later controlled by the warping of
the plane's wings in response to
slight movements of the pilot's
body. This redirection or modulation
of the wind to obtain a new
balance is still what allows the
modern propeller, rotor, glider,
and airplane wing to bring
our machines to life and carry us
from one destination to another.
