They Did Things Wright
Part II of our recent trip would take us to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. When investigating possible events and destinations we discovered that Kitty Hawk, where the Wright brothers made their first assisted power airplane flight, was indeed located on the Outer Banks. Strange, because we went through Indiana and there was a tourist information sign that noted that Dayton, Ohio was the home of the Wright Brothers. How in the world, and more of a question, why in the world did they travel all of those miles to do the test flight? According to information at the Wright Brothers Memorial near Kitty Hawk would suggest that they needed wide open spaces, preferred a sandy soil for their landing and most important, a consistent wind. All of those factors were present in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Maybe By Accident
The Wright brothers knew they were going to attempt something that no one had accomplished, powered flight. Sure, there had been gliders and kites, but this flight would be different. It would need to be accomplished with an engine that drove a propellor which pushed the vehicle forward with enough force for the carefully manufactured wings to create enough lift to overcome gravity and the other forces of nature. They queried multiple states for possible locations, but only North Carolina made them an offer. Their conditions and the location near Kill Devil Hill, the actual location of the first flight, seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

Was This Really The Place?
Don’t know about all of you, but I certainly didn’t envision the first powered flight to have taken place on a strip of land about 2 miles wide, right next to the Atlantic Ocean. As you enter what was the venue for Wright brothers historic flight, your eyes are automatically drawn to the top of Kill Devil Hill where the actual monument that commemorates the occasion is located. It is not, however, the exact location where the first flight occurred. Close? Yes, but Kill Devils Hill was used to test the wing design of the gliders that resembled the powered vehicle. The actual flight started and ended on flat land. The Wrights wanted total power assisted flight, so as not to confuse people with “nothing but a glider with a motor” scenario. This had to be the real thing, the start of a new generation that would develop and use powered flight.

Thinking It Over
 Orville Wright completed the first powered flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft known as the Wright Flyer in 1903. In 1948 the Boeing company began design of the B 52. Yep, only 45 years after the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk. The B 52 did not begin service until 1955, still only 52 years after the first flight. The Wright brothers had a tough time selling their Wright Flyer design to anyone. It appeared that powered flight was not all that important. Turn the page to 2024 and realize where we are today. We have built planes like the B 52 that will be part of the Air Force arsenal until 2050. Not museum pieces, but actual online weapons. It truly is amazing. What was the dream of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk? Their first flight was less than a minute, and it was cause for celebration. I still stand in awe as I watch a B 52 take to the air, and it all started on a strip of land called the Outer Banks, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Best Kept Secrets
This has been a great year for the gardening world. If you are thinking that all of the good produced has come and gone, think again. Both Farmer’s Markets have great produce left to sell. If not produce, then how about the canned goods like tomato sauce and salsa, and fruit preserves. Visit a local Farmer’s Market this week.
I also want to talk about the Pride of Dakota Showcase on October 25^th & 26^th at the All Seasons Arena in Minot. It’s your chance to buy and support local North Dakota products.

Today’s Chuckle
When you’re young you like to walk on the wild side. By middle age you just want to lie down and nap on the mild side.