Visions of a Flying Machine

by Peter L. Jakab

This acclaimed book on the Wright Brothers takes the reader straight to the heart of their remarkable achievement, focusing on the technology and offering a clear, concise chronicle of precisely what they accomplished and how they did it. This book deals with the process of the invention of the airplane and how the brothers identified and resolved a range of technical puzzles that others had attempted to solve for a century.

Step by step, the book details the path of invention (including the important wind tunnel experiments of 1901) which culminated in the momentous flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903, the first major milestone in aviation history. Enhanced by original photos, designs, drawings, notebooks, letters and diaries of the Wright Brothers, Visions of a Flying Machine is a fascinating book that will be of interest to engineers, historians, enthusiasts, or anyone interested in the process of invention.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Aviation

282 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want the MEAT, this book is it. It focuses on the painstaking mental and physical labor as well as the technicalities and logistics of their phenomenal work, and the author has a solid understanding of their distinct personalities — which adds depth to why they were able to do what they did together. It celebrates their intelligence (both as individuals and within their partnership) and profound creativity. This book is so, so, so good.

[Howard Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Jakab’s Visions of a Flying Machine is the best explanation of how the Wrights actually invented the aeroplane. Visions of a Flying Machine is concise and brilliant. Press this book into the hands of anyone who says so-and-so flew first. Jakab’s book will introduce them to the fundamental problems that the Wrights solved to achieve powered flight.

[Ryan Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is delightful. Extremely well researched, not bogged down with minutiae, and very accessible. I read for the purpose of understanding the mechanical engineering prowess that these men had. Excellent book. Will likely reread in years to come.

[Jon Koebrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good telling of how the Wright brothers systematically figured out how to make a machine fly using simple yet innovative testing.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history book that focuses on the engineering principles, the brothers process, and the technical obstacles they overcame to discover powered flight. Excellent!