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1908 and 1909: The Wright Brothers in Europe:
The Wrights had secured a proposal with the French at about the same time they were awarded a contract with the U.S. Army. While Orville went to Ft. Myer for the Army trials, Wilbur left for France to demonstrate their aircraft.
Anxious to make his first public flight since 1905, Wilbur chose a somewhat remote race track outside of Le Mans. However, it did not take long before word spread quickly throughout the countryside of Wrights' magnificent achievement. Wilbur became an instant celebrity with each flight he made. The Wrights had captured the imagination of the world and, in doing so, had proven beyond a doubt that they had truly accomplished all that they said they had.
In early 1909, after recuperating from his aircraft at Ft. Myer, Orville joined his brother and with their sister Katharine, they took Europe by storm. Hundreds of thousands of spectators clamored to see Wilbur fly and to get a glimpse of Orville. Wilbur and Orville's lives would never be the same, nor would the lives of those who witnessed these spectacular flights.
The Wrights left Europe quite satisfied that they had achieved all that they had set out to do. By April, it was time to return home to Dayton to get ready for the Army trials at Ft. Myer. |