The impact of flight on life in the twentieth century is almost immeasurable. Flight impacted life in several different ways. First, and most obviously, flight became a huge component of war and weapons in the 20th century. Seeing how far the world came in aviation between the Wright brothers and the first World War is amazing. The twentieth century consisted of so many rapid advances in the technology of aviation, and Wrold War I is a perfect example of these advances.
Another example is that flight opened up the world to everyone. For example, when Louis Bleriot flew over the English Channel, Lord Northcliff proclaimed that England was "no longer an island." Soon, the whole world could proclaim this statement when Charles Lindbergh flew over the Atlantic Ocean. Communication and collaboration would soon be much more accessible because of aviation.
6. How did the United States government and other countries respond to the Wrights’ efforts to sell their invention?
When the brothers filed their original patent on March 23, 1903, they were promptly rejected by an official who gave a good recommendation: "employ an attorney skilled in patent proceedings." The Wright brothers heeded this advice and Henry A. Toulmin helped them acquire Patent No. 821,393 on May 22, 1906.
After this, the brothers continued trying to sell their machine, a feat that they had been trying to achieve long before they received a patent. The US Army had very little interest in the brothers because of how embarrassing the Langley project of 1898-1903 had been. Trying to avoid any and all repeats of that incident, the US Army immediately dismissed the claims of the brothers, especially because there were no photos or flight demonstrations in an attempt to protect their invention.
The governments of Europe were more interested in the brothers than the US. The officer most responsible for aeronautics in the British army, Colonel John E. Capper, actually came to visit the brothers in Dayton in 1904. In the end, he believed that Britain should develop its own aeronautical talent rather than purchasing from another country.
France was the country with the strongest interest in the Wright brother's invention, but they also would not sign a contract without a demonstration flight. No country would sign a contract, so the brothers sought out assistance from Charles Flint & Company, who eventually led to the US Army accepting a bid from the Wright brothers.
7. When and what was La Grande Semaine d’Aviation de Champagne and what significance does it have in aviation history?
This event was the first great aerial spectacular--a full week of flying activity that attracted many of the world's aviators to the Plains of Bethany. The event was held from Sunday, August 22, to Sunday, August 29, 1909. Prizes totaling 167,000 francs were given for different aviation feats such as distance, speed, altitude, and passenger-carrying competitions. Several pilots competed in this event, but as usual, the Wrights declined to participate, noting that "it did not make good business sense to compete with latecomers who were infringing on their patents." This event had a huge impact on aviation history. It marked the transition between the era of the invention of the airplane and the birth of the aviation industry.
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