The Wright Brothers' Gliders: Mastering the Air

How Kitty Hawk Became the Testing Ground for Flight

This is the third article in our series on the Wright Brothers. Before they could achieve powered flight, Orville and Wilbur had to master the art of gliding – and they did it right here on the Outer Banks.

Why Kitty Hawk?

After corresponding with the U.S. Weather Bureau, the Wrights learned that Kitty Hawk, North Carolina offered ideal conditions for their experiments:

In 1900, Wilbur wrote to his father: "I am intending to start in a few days for a trip to the coast of North Carolina... for the purpose of making some experiments with a flying machine."

The Revolutionary Breakthrough: Wing Warping

The Wright Brothers' key innovation wasn't the wing or the propeller – it was wing warping, their method of controlling an aircraft in flight.

Wilbur discovered the concept while twisting an empty bicycle inner-tube box. He realized that by warping (twisting) the wings, a pilot could control the aircraft's roll – turning left or right.

This was revolutionary. Other aviation pioneers focused on stability, trying to build aircraft that would fly straight automatically. The Wrights understood that a pilot needed to control the aircraft, much like riding a bicycle.

The 1900 Glider

The Wrights arrived in Kitty Hawk in September 1900 with their first full-size glider. It had:

They flew it mostly as a kite, gathering data. The results were disappointing – the lift was less than expected – but they learned valuable lessons.

The 1901 Glider

The following year, they returned with a larger glider (22-foot wingspan). Again, the performance fell short of their calculations. Frustrated, Wilbur declared that man would not fly "for a thousand years."

But instead of giving up, the brothers went back to fundamentals. They built a wind tunnel and tested over 200 different wing shapes. The data they gathered would prove invaluable.

The 1902 Glider: Success

Armed with their wind tunnel data, the Wrights built their 1902 glider. This one worked.

They made over 700 successful glides at Kill Devil Hills, some covering more than 600 feet. The 1902 glider featured:

The addition of the rear rudder, coordinated with wing warping, gave them true three-axis control. They had solved the problem of controlled flight.

Now they just needed to add power.

See Where They Flew

The dunes where the Wright Brothers tested their gliders still exist. When you fly with OBX Airplanes, you'll soar over Kill Devil Hills and see the same landscape that Orville and Wilbur saw as they perfected their craft.

Walk in the footsteps – and fly in the skies – of the Wright Brothers. Book your tour today.

OBX Airplanes – First Flight Airport, Manteo, NC – 252.473.2442