Unlocking the Gateway to Flight: The Keys to the Success of the Wright Brothers

Unlocking the Gateway to Flight: The Keys to the Success of the Wright Brothers tells the fascinating story of how two remarkable brothers realized mankind's age-old dream of flight. In crystal-clear prose it chronicles, step-by-step, how patience, the scientific method, inspired genius, and incredible concentration changed the world forever. The book covers the unique role the entire Wright family played in the development of these two young men, contributing greatly to their eventual success and notoriety.

Neither Orville, nor Wilbur held a high school diploma; both had only modest means. Yet in just four short years they learned the secrets of flight that had evaded even the most famous, the best-educated, and the most heavily-financed scientists and engineers for centuries. The principles they discovered a century ago still apply to every aircraft built today.

Beautifully designed by Dayton artist Bill Patterson, of Patterson Graphics, and liberally illustrated with photographs and diagrams, many from the Wrights' archives, this casebound, commemorative edition features 16 additional, full-color pages highlighting the centennial celebrations of December 17, 2003, in Kitty Hawk, NC. This special edition includes exclusive photos not seen in the softcover version of the exciting reenactment of the first flight on that historic day.

Available to libraries and non-profit organizations at a special discounted rate.

Dale H. Whitford has been intensely interested in airplanes and aviation history since early childhood. He built his first flying model airplane at age six and that hobby eventually directed him to his life's work. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and is one of the five founders of the University of Dayton Research Institute.

Whitford has read and lectured extensively to both technical and non-technical groups on the Wrights, their airplane, and the reasons for their success. This book is the culmination of his study.

Whitford is now retired after 41 years of conducting aeronautical research for government and industry.