The Wright Brothers’ Secret to Achieving Flight

Good morning! Did you know that yesterday was National Aviation Day? It was established in 1939 by FDR through a presidential proclamation, designating the birthday of Orville Wright as this special day. Orville Wright, who was born in 1871 and still alive at the time of the proclamation, lived for another nine years after it was issued ✈
-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• A Bicycle’s Role in Creating the First Airplane

• Around the Skies: Route for 2025 Air Race Classic unveiled, Volunteers restore fly-in cabins in Alaska, Gulfstream's G400 begins flight-test program, Piper M700 gets FAA nod for unpaved surfaces

• PilotTube: How a Jet Airliner Works

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

How the Wright Brothers Used Bicycles to Conquer the Skies

On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers forever changed the course of history by making the first successful powered flight. What set them apart from their competitors (who were often well-funded engineers and aeronautical experts) was their unique approach, stemming from their knowledge of bicycles.

In the late 1800s, the bicycle boom had gripped the country, and the Wright brothers were avid cyclists and tinkerers. They opened a bicycle repair shop, Wright Cycle Co., in Dayton, OH, where they honed their skills in mechanics and engineering by constantly improving bicycle designs for better control and aerodynamics.

This hands-on experience with bicycles became their secret weapon in the race for flight. While other aviation pioneers focused on stability, viewing planes like ships that needed to stay steady, the Wright brothers realized that, like a bicycle, an airplane required active control and balance. Their understanding of how a rider maintains stability on an inherently unstable bicycle allowed them to approach aircraft design with fresh insights. They perfected wing designs that allowed for better control in the air, long before worrying about engines.

Ultimately, their practical, step-by-step approach, combined with their broad knowledge and willingness to put in the work, enabled them to achieve the first manned, controlled, powered flight.

Don’t Keep flybuyer a Secret!

Help me grow the newsletter by sending this link to your pilot friends!

AROUND THE SKIES

With the 2024 Air Race Classic complete, the organization has announced the 2025 race route, which will run from H.L. Sonny Callahan Airport in Alabama to Felts Field Airport in Washington from June 17-20, 2025. The race highlights the Air Race Classic's mission to support and inspire female pilots, while also promoting public awareness of general aviation and celebrating the legacy of women in aviation.

A group of seven volunteers from the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) joined U.S. Forest Service staff to restore and maintain remote fly-in cabins at Heckman Lake in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The team spent a week repairing docks, staining cabins and clearing trails, ensuring access for future users while contributing to the USFS cabin sustainability plan, which aims to preserve these unique, airplane-accessible locations that offer solitude, safety, and outdoor activities.

Gulfstream's new G400 large-cabin jet has officially entered its flight-test phase, successfully completing its first flight on August 15th. Departing from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, the G400 reached a speed of Mach 0.85 and an altitude of 41,000 feet during the nearly three-hour flight, utilizing sustainable aviation fuel. Announced in 2021, the G400 can fly 4,200 nautical miles and shares design features with the G500 and G600, including the advanced high-speed wing and Symmetry flight deck.

Piper Aircraft's M700 Fury turboprop single has received FAA approval for operations on unpaved surfaces, including gravel, sand and grass, significantly expanding its operational capabilities. With U.S. deliveries already started and nearly 50 expected by the end of the year, Piper is also set to begin international deliveries by October.

PilotTube

Here’s a thorough look inside a modern jet passenger aircraft!

Interested in Sponsoring This Newsletter?
Email me at [email protected] to get your business featured in an upcoming edition.

Do You Have An Aircraft I Can Film?
I’m always on the lookout for airplanes to review for my YouTube channel. If you own, fly or have access to an airplane, business jet, helicopter, sea plane, bush plane, warbird or blimp, please fill out this form!

Need to Sell Your Plane?
I’m the founder of Royal Aviation Group, a veteran-owned aircraft brokerage that specializes in video content to get airplanes sold. Send me an email at [email protected] if you’d like to chat.

Follow @flybuyer on Instagram!