David McCullough with Ken Burns on The Wright Brothers

Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough talks with pre-eminent historical documentarian, Ken Burns, telling the dramatic story-behind the story of the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright.
Recorded May 7, 2015 at 92nd Street Y.
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[@abbymoser8996]

Just so sad today that the world has lost David McCullough. An incredible historian.

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

How WONDERFUL that we have had him to teach us all our own history! Now, he would want us, I believe, to continue the effort and make certain young people truly know our history. We would not be in the fraught position we are today if people spent more time learning about our own history and less time watching political television. It is all about developing discernment.

[@jimlaguardia8185]

You were expecting him to live forever?

[@timothypnolan]

True, but we gotta make room. I hope that all badasses are finding successors

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Look how distinguished he was also, with a sureness of moral certainty, dignity and pride. I don't know. I really don't know if mankind can grow them like that anymore. Where can a man like this come from today?

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@jimlaguardia8185 It would be nice if his spirit does.

[@gregoryverch1836]

I teach high school US History and after Mr McCullough’s passing … I decided to put a project into place that I always hoped to do but just kept putting off. I asked my district to purchase multiples of all of his books and then I have students do a two prong report … a short presentation on any story they learned about from the book they chose and then to answer a few very broad questions about the impact of the book and what it means to them. I even give extra credit if they do it with their parents! I am hoping for great things 😊

[@alanmcneill2407]

My history students were riveted to Ken Burns film THE CIVIL WAR, and it was Mr McCullough's writing and the tremendous intelligence and remarkable voice, filled with the accents that make listening a joy, that brought this American drama alive. Mr Mcullough had no idea how much impact he had on his listreners, we could never put in words our love for his gifts. RIP....you gave mankind more than we deserved.

[@patarmstrong4676]

Very well said sir! Quite a remarkable collaborative achievement by two American treasures.

[@kmabythesea]

I visited Martha's Vineyard once. I ate dinner in a very nice restaurant there and out of the blue Mr. McCullough was seated at the table next to me. I was stunned. I said nothing - he had a wonderful dinner with his group - and I was just so happy to hear his voice bubble up every now and then. A terrific memory for me.

[@marileeodendahl2720]

That's class - to sit and enjoy his voice and resist any impulse to interrupt to tell him how much you appreciate his books.

[@alanmcneill2407]

I applaude your fine respect for him, allowing him to have an undisturbed dinner with his group. You are the kind of person he so respected, you are part of his inspiration to write of America's great, but little known people. bless you!!

[@lynseddon2426]

1:00:07

[@robcoventry574]

Ken, how much you must be saddened by David’s passing. His loss was an incredible impact on me and I never met him. Yet you had the unique pleasure of knowing him in person and having a career influenced by him. So sad for your loss.

[@EthioMod]

One of the best books I've ever read. The ingenuity and perseverance of the Wright Brothers to attain controlled flight through countless failures and hardships is nothing short of a miracle. What an amazing story.

[@ruiquesito5545]

Did you know that their patents do not indicate the plane? they recorded a system for driving gliders where there was only a twist of wings, this was prehistoric. RESPONDER

[@ruiquesito5545]

there is no confirmation of flights between 1903 - 1905. The flights were quoted in papers and the machine never showed up to prove anything. historical fact,

[@junisaraiva6219]

EthioMod two shammers, Gay.

[@junisaraiva6219]

EthioMod - miracle, oh yes Saint shammers

[@vancetrigger]

incredible

[@3storiesUp]

That voice .. when David speaks it draws you in .. he is a story teller supreme. I adore these two men.

[@judilecompte9377]

I just said the same thing to my husband as I was watching this. Two of the most amazing men alive today.

[@jasonjohnson6344]

Two national treasures and near pinnacles in their fields. RIP David 👏🙏😢

[@traines51]

When I read David's books, I hear his soothing voice in my head. Amazing writer and narrator.

[@user-fo7nk3ui1f]

​ㅓ키딕드

[@Hollis_has_questions]

One of the greatest interviews I’ve ever experienced. Thank you, gentlemen, and RIP Mr. McCullough.

[@bernardcleary4330]

I've read a half dozen of Mr. McCullough's books. Never have I enjoyed reading history more, and I minored in history at university. He was a consummate story teller who took great pains to present a balanced, compelling, and meticulously researched narrative. I will miss him greatly. Rest in peace, good sir.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

What do you mean by "balanced"? Half communism and half individual liberty, (our choice of philosophy we follow, until under full communism where there is no choice.)? Well, when it comes to how I want to live my life, under what philosophies, I think I will pass on the "balance", and just reject communism. Oh--sorry. What did you mean by "balance" again? :)

[@ellenmarch3095]

I just looked to make sure he was still alive just the other day. 😥😥

[@davidb6576]

@@EarthSurferUSA You are precisely who the Jefferson quote was aimed at. And you are also completely unable to appreciate what the quote meant, and its criticality to maintaining a truly free and just society.

[@nathanfugate8210]

The one thing the Wrights don't get credit for is the modern propeller. It was their genius that realized a propeller was really a wing in rotation, should be an airfoil, and needed to be twisted along it's length to equalize the lift (thrust) generated as it turned. A modern propeller is 85% efficient. The Wright's first hand-carved propeller was 80% efficient. Enough said.

[@CFG-eb3my]

perhaps news to you, GNathan

[@nathanfugate8210]

@@CFG-eb3my ?? What you just said makes no sense regarding my comment.

[@joeyhunter842]

@@nathanfugate8210chill out grandma. You didn’t exactly impress and your comment hit with a great “thud”😂

[@marksisto900]

I gave them credit for the propeller

[@Vigilant_Guardian]

sorry to have lost David, I have such great admiration for this man's stories and virtues. Transends the American Adventure

[@warriorpups5568]

Elegant! Two masters at play and we get to enjoy them and learn!

[@silverfeigner]

RIP David McCullough. You will be missed greatly because of your ability to bring history to life, and having a voice that is apparently a cure for insomnia. LOL. Seriously though, you are a national treasure.

[@TheBTG88]

Enjoyed all his books. His death is a great loss to the country and history. RIP

[@donbalduf572]

I live about a mile from Orville Wright’s house Hawthorn Hill in Oakwood. The Wrights were everything you hear described here and probably more. They were original thinkers who did their own experimentation, developed their own theories and did not accept the conventional thinking of the experts. One small criticism of the interview: Otto Lilienthal was not an armchair theorist. He flew his gliders and in fact was killed in a crash.

[@davidb6576]

There were a few unfortunate errors in the talk, but by and large still a profoundly interesting overview of the Wrights. I was most jarred by the comment that Thomas Selfridge was the first to die in aviation. Perhaps in powered flight, but certainly not in the history of aviation.

[@JohnKSedor]

I happened to meet Gustave Whitehead 's family who still live in Connecticut and they confirmed Gustave Whitehead did indeed fly in 1901.

[@donbalduf572]

@@JohnKSedor We have ample proof of the work of the Wrights and their first flight. What proof do the Whiteheads offer?

[@larryo6874]

@@JohnKSedor I sometimes read that the Wright Brothers performed the first controlled flight. In other words they could make their plane go up or down or turn left or right by using wing warping.

[@colleenmonfross4283]

Oh gosh, I just love him! He articulated some things about our country that really put my own thoughts and feelings into words and gave me a new perspective as well.

[@johnstevenson9956]

I don't yet have all of David McCullough's books, but I plan to. His writing is fascinating.

[@jamesnorton8316]

I need to do some more reading to soak up more of David McCullough's wonderful work. So sorry he has left us.

[@skjones6654]

1776 should be the first history book kids read. It's effortless flow and accessibility to the reader are so engaging, leaves you wanting to delve into the specific moments further. A national treasure who will live forever in our American experience.

[@vichy7661]

Katharine Wright, Sister of Wilbur & Orville, commands respect for her diligence providing precision craftswomanship for sewing the canvas wings. It's been recorded that without her contribution to constantly trim seams, perfectly sewn together the plane would have NEVER flown. Everything revolved around efficiency & weight reduction.

[@trumptorianguard4617]

You don’t think these tenacious men would have found another competent seamstress?

[@petersipp5247]

I like very much you saying...craftswomanship...For Sure the planes could not fly with her craftswomanship in sewing up the canvas wing material. A tough material to put a sewing needle through so many times!

[@samkohen4589]

Extremely educated, intelligent woman who do so much for her brothers. When she finally got married her brothers disowned her and shunned her for the rest of her life

[@yournamehere6719]

The brothers were working on such a shoestring, they could never have afforded a competent seamstress. Their sister did it out of a sense of family devotion, Contributing what she could and no doubt enjoying the time spent with her dear brothers.

[@matiakarrell92]

So ignorant a reply. so short sighted, a bitter man@@trumptorianguard4617

[@mgretche]

RIP you good man. May we all benefit by you brilliant stories of our history.

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

I love this man's books so much

[@rhigel2269]

The first photographs of the first flight by the Wright Brothers were taken by Dr. Fairchild, Dr Alexander Bell's son-in-law. The pictures were published in the National Geographic magazine.

[@johnwelsh2769]

John T. Daniels took the first photograph. He was a lifeguard.

[@rhigel2269]

Where is John Welsh's photograph published? Dr. Fairchild's photographs are published in a National Geographic magazine. An article about first flight.

[@johnwelsh2769]

@@rhigel2269 JOHN T. DANIELS took the first and most famous photograph. Google it!

[@oig40203]

@@rhigel2269 What? JOHN T. DANIELS is the guy who shot the first photo. No argument about it. After that, who cares?

[@rhigel2269]

@@oig40203: Really! So, please share with interested people, where can they see, John T. Daniel's photo?

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

David McCullough is an amazing story teller. I have read a few of his books (John Adams, Truman, 1776) and enjoyed them immensely. I haven't read The Wright Brothers but I think I will. I read another book on the Wright Brothers, "To Conquer the Air," by James Tobin and highly recommend it. It saddens me that it is becoming harder and harder to find good story telling in the history books currently being published. I have done something that 20 years ago would have been unthinkable for me, stopped reading halfway through a book. And not just one, three out of the last four history books I have purchased. They were all primarily a collection of facts and antidotes with a few dates sprinkled in to remind me when something was taking place. There was no narrative, no story. History is story telling. I hate it when an author is guilty of what I used to refer to as "Taking your brain out for a walk." I used to get the odd student who would do this when I was teaching, try and impress me with their knowledge. My response was always the same: "Want to impress me, lick your ear." Thanks for posting. I could listen to David McCullough for days. 👍

[@patj4952]

RIP Mr. McCullough. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and in the process making us a little smarter.

[@RickTorn]

The Wright Brothers were geniuses of the first order. They still do not get the respect, admiration, and gratitude that they deserve. Do students today even know who they are?

[@ruiquesito5545]

shammers brothers

[@jackr1360]

rui quesito fuck off you piece of shit. I'm sorry to be so vulgar but you nay sayers are so rude and troll like. Make an argument for Christ's sake!

[@michaeltalley51]

The get the credit because they successfully commercialized aviation. You look at any invention and it's the one or ones that commercialized it that we remember.

[@lemeilleurpourlafrance7946]

@@michaeltalley51 thats cause the real innovator of airplane is alberto santos dumont

[@connormclernon26]

I do, but I’ve been flying since I was 14 so that probably aids me

[@kamuelalee]

Tragic loss, a National Treasure is no more. At least we have these videos, his books and Burns' films to remember him by. RIP, Mr. McCullough, you will be missed.

[@ThomasDeLello]

The Wright Brothers were remarkably methodical about the way they went about things. What I admire most about the Wright Brothers is that they managed to outsmart all the fraudulent claims to their due credit without the advantage that people like Alexander Graham Bell so deviously used to their unscrupulous advantage.

[@sparky6086]

Ironically, Lt Selfridge aside from being in the Army, was part of Alexander Graham Bell's crew on his aviation project. If he hadn't been killed in the crash, he may have brought some secrets or insights from flying with the Wrights back to Bell.

[@Guitcad1]

I started watching this and it occurred to me, "Is David McCullough even still alive?" I just now (September, 2022) checked and saw that he only died last month, in August. 😢 RIP, sir. Your voice will inspire generations to come.

[@stephaniemontor1567]

David M one of the best writers ! What a great person too! He makes history come alive!

[@myfriend57]

I'm going to read this again, and the others in the "trilogy". His book Brave Companions is wonderful, and I recommend it heartily. Along with all the rest of course.

[@BrettLeMans]

Wilbur and Orville Wright = W.O.W. ;)

[@jimkelley1000]

Living legends - both!

[@davidprice6246]

“Hubris of the present” what a tremendous insight! This is applicable to politics, morality and religion.

[@user-jj3tw1sr7o]

Two of the best American storytellers.

[@dinacox1971]

I just ordered this book yesterday. I have loved Mr. McCullough's books for a very long time. Yes even before his work was wonderfully presented in the mini-series. When I saw that he had passed away I realized that this was work I had somehow missed. I am awaiting it with great anticipation.

[@ronhaworth5471]

What who better to moderate.Ken Burns. Thank you gentleman, it was my honor to listen. Let's do this again!!

[@lanceav8r]

It would be awesome if Ken Burns would do a documentary based on McCulloughs book.

[@samkohen4589]

Amazing how two young high school dropouts were able to solve the problem of heavier than air flight, while brilliant engineers were unable to do so. At the Smithsonian Institute, Air and Space Museum in Washington you can actually see their notes and be simply stunned at how brilliant they really were.

[@davidberry8431]

I remember seeing all the various shapes of wings in their museum in N.C. and the one that worked was a profile of a bird's wing - as designed by the Ultimate Designer.

[@samkohen4589]

At the Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum in Washington you can actually see their notes. It is incredible how two drop outs were able to figure out the physics involved in flight

[@robertweldon7909]

8/21/2022 As I sit her listening I realize that here are 2 of the best story tellers of the modern era. Not only that here are two people sharing a great life's lesson on how to live. ;-)

[@johnjon1823]

How can anyone give this a thumbs down except for Ken Burns dyed hair and not letting McCullough do more talking? Clearly the video outweighs that! Thumbs up!!

[@redtomcat1725]

Bringing the brothers to life ! Thank you !!

[@VtRD]

What do most students and former students, today, really know about the Wright Brothers? McCullough told such important stories. I will miss him.

[@Eazy-ERyder]

R.I.P. to this legendary historian. Ken Burns' The Civil War is my all time favorite documentary but I love also his narrations of Napoleon, Abraham and Mary Lincoln and so many MANY more. His voiceovers are so soothing to tbe ear. May his legacy endure for an eternity.

[@luzbuensuceso2916]

Thank you, David, for the light or the wisdom that you have brought us into the world. You will always be alive in our hearts.

[@mobydick3895]

In my life, I have experienced the sensation of having invented something. What it is, is that, first you have to give yourself permission to tinker with something. And you then tinker, and tinker, and tinker, until finally, you know that you know something. And no one cares what you are doing, until you have succeeded, and then at some point, everyone realizes that you have got something, and at that point, suddenly everyone understands, and amazingly, the reaction is that people immediately shift from denial to the point of view that what you are doing is now obvious, and that is all just a no-brainer! And then society incorporates it and runs with it and they then focus their attention on the next unsolvable problem! It is amazing.

[@Barbara-ty8dj]

Two amazing minds on the same stage in time woven together to elevate their areas of expertise.

[@marknan5352]

That voice ....... Amazing.

[@acommon1]

Stunning conversation. So enjoyed it. I have my share of David McCullough books in my Commoner's Library

[@JDAbelRN]

Ten minutes into this presentation, and I am ordering this historian's book on Amazon. Lovely. I love history so much, the Author McCullough and Burns are brilliant.

[@michaelrodgers9419]

I just ordered the audio book as well. Looking forward to listening to the authors reading of his work.

[@lurx2024]

A meeting of two great personalities and intellects, that have served as a guiding influence in my life.

[@fjmugwump]

Thank you, Ken Burns, for letting David speak. You made this program about him, his insights and observations, and we are well-served and richer for it. Personal note: The book is man’s greatest intellectual achievement.

[@arnabbanerjee8778]

Very engaging and enriching conversation. Enjoyed reading the book this week...

[@stevenkristoph6993]

Both of them are the best story tellers that America has (had) to offer. RIP David McCullough. Hope you're sharing a libation with George Washington.

[@lewie7820]

I dare say Mr David was the best historian and writer we have ever seen. Sad to hear of his passing. God bless him and his family

[@awfulorv]

I was saddened , and astounded, that in one of my son's high school books was a full page on Marilyn Monroe, and two rather small paragraphs on the Wright Brothers. And during this time the rest of the world looked upon America, and it's people, as that wonderful group of superior human beings who could solve whatever problem showed up. What happened?

[@stacyhamilton2619]

They needed to do her tits justice. What a woman!

[@lhaviland8602]

40 years of Republican "leadership"

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

We allowed these changes by not standing watch over the most valuable things about our culture. I believe we are not entirely at fault, though I would never discount our responsibility. Look back at our life spans, I am 70 years old-that explains what I have seen. My awareness of the larger world with the election of John F. Kennedy. The tumult of the succeeding years speak for themselves. Put simply, we threw the baby out with the bath water. It will be a monumental task to turn things around, if it is possible at all. We must begin with a real understanding of history, our history and the history of the world. First we must recognize and acknowledge exactly WHAT has happened.

[@bobs3354]

@@lhaviland8602 Wow. Dems try every day to tear down America and you blame Republicans?

[@yournamehere6719]

And important turning point was when governor Ronald Reagan attacked the University of California, and it’s funding, because young people or exploring ideas that offended his generations sense of entitlement.

[@davemclellan4019]

Like everyone else expressed here, I too adore the work of this great man. I've been inspired to go back and read ones I haven't read yet and even reread once I have. An interview of a great man done by another excellent historian.

[@paulmerritt418]

What an amazing man. He left America far richer and understanding of our history. Thank you.

[@jmjaxson]

I wish the Wright Brothers research with their shop-built wind tunnel to study airfoils along with their propeller experiments would have been brought to light......it's fascinating.

[@travisbryant3185]

Grateful for this . Very interesting

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

Great point about the Wright Brothers solving the problem of how to bank. Alexander Graham Bell was working on powered flight at that time as well but he was too wrapped up in power. The Wright's won the race because they worked on stability, assuming (correctly) that power was secondary and would follow naturally. They understood that flight was just a stunt if you could only travel in a straight line. I worked on aircraft and taught flight principles for a long time and McCullough is right, when you think about what these guys did with no formal education it blows the mind. Side Note: Thomas Selfridge was a pioneer in the field of aviation in own right and every Air Force Base in the US has a Selfridge Street or Avenue named in his honor.

[@sparky6086]

Ironically, Selfridge aside from being in the Army, was part of Alexander Graham Bell's crew on his aviation project. If he hadn't been killed in the crash, he may have brought some secrets or insights from flying with the Wrights to Bell.

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

@@sparky6086 I didn't know that. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@richardmourdock2719]

Good interview.. truly great book!

[@ruiquesito5545]

Richard Mourdock good interview ? Submitt please official documents between 1903 1905 about flights in Huffman prayrie please, kkkkk no exist, no exist motorized flights between 1993 1905 dear.

[@johntexas8417]

I love David

[@irish89055]

I'm truly will miss David McCulloch.I always enjoyed his PBS documentaries even the old Smithsonian Week TV show in the '80s. RIP

[@theprimalpitch190]

Dang!! A great rousing story that lets us rise above the daily squabbles to see the best of what people can do. I hope we all get at least a little bit of that special experience in life.

[@SafakSahin]

may there always be people like these and may we always come across them, their books or movies. am i asking too much?

[@bfgivmfith]

I wish to be half as knowledgeable and kind. I am glad I stumbled upon this!

[@ty2u]

Great interview. The McCullough book is great.

[@dmoney668]

Whoa these guy together! Amazing thx

[@terrioestreich4007]

Great interview!

[@TheWhitehiker]

Fascinating and well done.

[@roymaduro571]

Amazing story. Amazing author

[@Bonesvision]

Awesome

[@chrisbarclay6127]

These two guys are National Treasures....!!!

[@johnc4876]

The book rights were bought by Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Can’t wait for the movie.

[@SuperSpidey313]

David McCullough 's voice puts me to sleep, too, but only because it's so relaxing.

[@cojaysea]

Magnifique!!

[@musicfan6575]

everything begins an idea as We know history is being read but it is also being written.

[@stephenmellentine]

We're going to miss him.

[@biffburley1]

7:55 History serves as an antidote for the hubris of the present.

[@joycenaylor4488]

That statement caught my attention also!

[@a.w.a.4738]

no three because all were in number two, thanks David for that lecture (David McCullough: Americans in Paris)

[@kevinkiernanoutdoors3413]

Wonderful. I fall asleep to the voice of Jim Conrad narrator for Aerial America.

[@JohnKSedor]

The one thing I see missing from this interview is the history of Gustave Whitehead who flew 3 years before the Wright Bros. In Bridgeport, Connecticut. There are eye witness accounts, Bridgeport Police Dept.logs, newspaper reporters who covered the first flight in Bridgeport, accounts of people complaining about Whitehead flying overhead and scaring farm animals, photos of Whitehead flying into a building and getting stuck on the 3rd floor, and my own conversations with the Whitehead family who still live in Connecticut. To top it off, I spoke to a Ranger at the Kitty Hawk Memorial and he verified privately everyone there quietly knows Gustave Whitehead fly before the Wright Bros., but no one wanted to lose their jobs. Gustave was an Inventor, not a note taker and he was not a schemer.

[@larryo6874]

Lots of controversy “A minority of commentators claim that the No. 21 flew, but the majority of historians reject these claims. Whitehead was quoted in a July 26 article in the Minneapolis Journal, credited to the New York Sun, in which he described the first two trial flights of his machine on May 3. Andrew Cellie and Daniel Varovi were mentioned as his financial backers who also assisted in the trial flights. The machine was unmanned and carried 220 pounds (100 kilograms) of sand as ballast and flew to an altitude of 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m) for an 1/8 of a mile (200 m). According to Whitehead, the machine flew a distance of 1/2 mile (790 m) during its second test flight for one and one-half minutes before crashing into a tree. He also explained his desire to keep the location of any future experiments hidden to avoid drawing a crowd who might make a "snap-shot verdict of failure".[2] Drawing in the Bridgeport Herald of No.21 aloft. In an article in the August 18, 1901, issue of the Bridgeport Sunday Herald a reporter states that he witnessed a night test of the machine, at first unpiloted and loaded with sand bags, and later with Whitehead at the controls. The story was reprinted in the New York Herald, the Boston Transcript and the Washington Times, which ran it on August 23, 1901. Within months, the story ran in nine other newspapers in all parts of the country, as far away as California and Arizona.[2] A drawing of the aircraft in flight accompanied the Sunday Herald article. According to Whitehead and a reporter who claimed to have witnessed the event, the monoplane's longest flight was 200 feet (61 m) above ground for one-half mile (0.80 km). Whitehead's supporters say that he made four flights that day, which resulted in conflicting accounts from different witnesses. The conflicts have been used by opponents of the claims to question whether any flights took place. These claims are rejected by mainstream historians. Whitehead did not keep a log book or document his work. In 1980 aviation historian C. H. Gibbs-Smith called the story a "flight of fancy".[5] A minority of commentators have supported Whitehead's claim to have flown the No. 21 and this has caused some controversy. In 2013 an editorial by Paul Jackson in the influential industry publication Jane's All the World's Aircraft credited Whitehead as the first man to build and fly a powered heavier-than-air flying machine.[6] The corporate owner of Jane's subsequently distanced itself from the editorial, stating "the article reflected Mr. Jackson's opinion on the issue and not that of IHS Jane's".[7] Tom Crouch, senior curator of aeronautics for the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution, studied evidence for the alleged flight and in 2016 he issued a strong rebuttal, noting many other authorities who had already done so.[8]”

[@JohnKSedor]

All an event needs is one truthful witness, not a collection of well-educated crowing at their own credentials and quoting themselves as authorities who were never there and foward in time by a hundred years. Just because a murderer hires a skilled lawyer to present spun evidence and gets off Scott free, doesn’t mean he’s not a murderer. The Wright Brothers (Wrong Brothers) spent an enormous amount of time and energy disparaging Gustave Whitehead makes me hugely suspicious of them and their claims.

[@JohnKSedor]

I think there’s a great deal of experts around that were never there. I’m always suspicious of critics that keep on quoting themselves as an authority or who are impressed with each other’s credentials. All an event needs is one truthful witness, and Whitehead had over 10 that signed affidavits to him flying in 1901. He may even flown as early as 1899!

[@michaelbryant2071]

Of of the most brilliant storytellers, and, biographers of our day. David McCullough famously avoided talking about, or, giving his opinions on Politicians, he said, " I talk about people who are dead." He did finally give his opinion on one current day Politician, he said of Donald Trump, " He's a monstrous Clown, with a Monstrous ego." My favorite quote of the year. Rest in peace, Mr. McCullough.

[@Aluminata]

I wonder how would they have responded to the fact that - in 100 years time - there will be one million people in the air at any one time, that some planes will have a take off weight of 570 tonnes, carry 800 people, fly at 900 kilometer per hour at 42,000 feet for 15,000 kilometers.

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

You haven't researched the whole L'Aerophile archive...

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

+rodolfo scwartzman oh my goodness, I did really believed that there was finally someone doing some research work with whom discuss this stuff. Then I did read your other comments and realized that is you again, Gilberto Barata Troxa Quesito. You just copied the text at wright-brothers.wikidot.com/ What a deception...

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

+rodolfo scwartzman a very intelligent conversation on your side, congratulations. Do you really need to hide under a fake profile to "prove" your point? Are really necessary the offenses, bad words etc? What a shameful person you are. Get lost. I don't know and I don't care who you are. With such attitude you will never prove your point. I can't imagine Alberto Santos-Dumont talking that way. He will hang himself again if he were to read your comments.

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

rodolfo scwartzman Fuck off Gilberto.

[@Aluminata]

And you are FUCK WIT.

[@warp13]

"...the Wrights have beaten us all with their machine and I want one!"...LEON DELAGRANGE. 1907 President of the Aero Club of France.... The facts are the facts...

[@troxatroxa4450]

+warp13 - leon delagrange have one register - the brothers have conversations and newspapers comments without photos or concret proofs.

[@troxatroxa4450]

+warp13 LEON DELAGRANGE OFFICIAL REGISTER IN FAI 1907, WRIGHT BROTHERS HAVE A OFFICIAL REGISTER IN FAI 1908.

[@troxatroxa4450]

+warp13 THE RECOGNIZED 1908 FOR 1903 ATEMPORAL REGISTER THIS REGISTER DON'T EXIST.

[@troxatroxa4450]

+warp13 THE RECOGNIXED 1908 IS A SIMPLE PAPER WITHOUT HOMOLOGATION. ATEMPORAL REGISTER DON'T EXIST.

[@troxatroxa4450]

,+warp13 - PRESENT PLEASE CORROBORATIVES DOCUMENTS USA GOVEENMENT PLEASE

[@jeffcollins5188]

It means a lot to me that I graduated from ECU on Dec 17th.

[@dashriprock2916]

Would make a great movie.

[@BSBandit]

A large print copy of David's "1776", now that i reflect, may have inspired my interest in history. Greatly influenced at the least.

[@a.w.a.4738]

David McCullough: Americans in Paris, David the comment is about previous title that precedes the comma.

[@KeshHarp]

God rest ye gentle, David.

[@jacobburkholder2609]

Rest in Peace David McCullough.

[@Smudgeroon74]

Sorry please let me know how old was the man, do you know

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@Smudgeroon74 89

[@mackenziezimmerer7926]

Aside from this marvelous retrospect, a cruel twist of fate fell upon the Wright's and that of the American dream in 1913. Still on record as the greatest natural disaster in Ohio history happened and hardest hit was Dayton in the great flood of 1913. Swept away were many of the historical records of Kitty hawk and that of the Flyer. It's tragic loss was measured greater only by the over 500 lives that were lost that day.

[@cards0486]

David McCullough and Ken Burns. It doesn’t get any better than those two. Except Shelby Foote. Ken could never have done the CIVIL WAR series without him.

[@kevinsutphin2504]

As a North Carolinian ive always felt Ohio deserves the credit for the Wright Brothers.

[@marilynadams349]

Amos Root bee keeper. Saw how bees worked. And how the Wright brothers found / saw flight!

[@boggy7665]

Videos related to the Wright Brothers, more than any other videos, have me wishing and longing for a good, selective comment blocker.

[@sablatnic8030]

Me too, but until we get that you are welcome to join me trolling. ^_^

[@stacyhamilton2619]

Perhaps a Portugese comment blocker. Santos Dumont hopped a flimsy box kite uncontrollably for 37 feet in 1906. Margaret Dumont flew farther and higher than that from one of Zeppo's pranks.

[@leftyshawenuph4026]

This guy contributed.

[@Hassan494]

rest in peace

[@garyolsen3409]

He was an American treasure.