"On a blustery North Carolina afternoon in 1902, young Jimmie and Clara Blair meet Orville and Wilbur Wright and assist the inventors in realizing their dream of human flight"--

A little boy is excited by his first airplane ride

An aviation expert uncovers the brilliance behind the first successful flight of an engine-powered plane In the centennial year of the Wright Brothers' first successful flight, acclaimed aviation writer T. A. Heppenheimer reexamines what Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved. In First Flight, he debunks the popular assumption that the Wrights were simple mechanics who succeeded by trial and error, demonstrating instead that they were true engineering geniuses. Heppenheimer presents the background that made possible the work of the Wrights and examines the work of Samuel P. Langley, a serious rival. He places their work within a broad historical context, emphasizing their contributions after 1903 and their convergence with ongoing aeronautical work in France. T. A. Heppenheimer (Fountain Valley, CA) has written extensively on aerospace, business, and the history of technology. His many books include Turbulent Skies: The History of Commercial Aviation (0-471-10961-4), Countdown: A History of Space Flight (0-471-14439-8), and A Brief History of Flight: From Balloons to Mach 3 and Beyond (0-471-34637-3), all from Wiley.

This fascinating firsthand account covers the Wright Brothers' early experiments, construction of planes and motors, first flights, and much more. Introduction and commentary by Fred C. Kelly. 76 photographs.

With an inspiring text, original paintings, period photographs, and detailed diagrams, the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright is recreated, from their earliest challenges to their final triumph in 1903--building the plane that would change the world.

In the cockpit Captain Bright Makes sure everything works right. Wing flaps open. Wing flaps close. Lights shine bright on tail and nose. Susanna Leonard Hill's rhythmic text and Ana Martin Larranaga's simple but enticing art will take young readers on an exciting airplane ride! Kids can lift the10 flaps throughout the book to make their flying and reading experience more fun! Fasten your seatbelt and fly above the sky with this interactive book that's shaped like an airplane. This format is perfect for young children who are going on a plane for the first to one-hundredth time!