Feeling cranky about air travel? Get a grip.
Not on the arm of your passenger seat--on reality,
history, and the incredible accomplishment of human flight.
We've just celebrated the 100th anniversary of the
Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Although there werecertainly others who were experimenting with flying
machines--most notably, Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian who is
widely celebrated in his native country as being the father of
aviation--the Wright Brothers are generally regarded as the first to
get humans off the ground.
The fascinating thing about the Wright brothers is
that they were not the idealistic dreamers you might expect them to be.
They were serious, studious, and determined to figure things out. It
wasn't that they were obsessed with the dream of soaring high above the
ground. They were mechanically-inclined brothers who owned a bicycle
shop, and they couldn't forget the brief but exciting flight of a cheap
toy airplane they'd received as children. They were intrigued by the
engineering challenge.
Let's just say it--they were geeks. Good thing.
Like geeks everywhere, they dug in, immersing themselves in their
research. By following their hunch and testing the heck out of it, they
found the key component that enabled them to create that first flying
hunk of wood, fabric and wire capable of carrying a man and--key point
here--landing without crashing.
The Wright brothers had the same access to records
of tried and failed attempts at flight as all other would-be aviators
of the time. They studied birds, they analyzed physics properties, and
they built wind tunnels--just like everyone else. Sure, it was their
dogged persistence that led them to success, but there was something
else that really helped them nail it. They took one piece of the puzzle
and worked relentlessly to decipher it.
Instead of focusing on the force needed to lift
the contraption, or the engine required to power it, they zeroed in on
the concept of control. No sense having a great flight only to crash
into the trees after a few moments of jubilation. It was the issue of
control that captured their imagination and led to a design featuring
both maneuverability and safety.
But as focused as they were on directing the
movement of the flying machines, they failed to pay attention to the
continued testing and refinement of their ideas. They got distracted by
their efforts to control sales, and the research and development
division was left flapping in the breeze. While the Wrights got caught
up in patent struggles and contracts, adventurers around the world were
improving on their original design and savvy businessmen were building
airplanes, airports and flight schools. By 1912, Wilbur had died and
Orville was losing interest in flying.
Meanwhile, Santos-Dumont continued his passion for
being airborne. He is credited with launching the first public flight
as well as designing the first hydroplane. He zipped around Europe,
flying to fashionable restaurants and parking his plane out front,
right next to the tethered horses. Where the Wrights were methodical
and diligent, Santos-Dumont was a flashy man about town known for his
daring and his sense of style. He cut a dashing figure and inspired
everyone from fashion designers to engineers. His friend, Louis
Cartier, created the first wristwatch for him after Santos-Dumont
expressed a need to keep track of time while busily flying his plane.
Santos-Dumont didn't give a rip about patents.
Instead of spending his time and money on protecting his designs, he
freely offered his ideas to anyone interested in copying and improving
them. He engaged in the shareware idea: take this, go forth and
prosper. We've seen this approach in software (Linux) and
hybrid-electric cars (Hunter and Amory Lovins), and though it rarely
leads to great wealth for the creators, it dramatically facilitates
access and ingenuity.
After years of flying high, Santos-Dumont suffered
from ill health and committed suicide in 1932. I guess neither
engineering talent nor courageous individualism guarantees a happy
ending. The Wrights ran out of passion, and Santos-Dumont lost his
mojo. In their own ways, they simply burned out.
It's interesting to think about how we need both
the plodding perseverance of the Wrights and the free-thinking
generosity of Santos-Dumont in every project we undertake. The greatest
invention in the world will never capture the excitement of the
population without those who are fearless in their attempts to apply
it. Those who create the buzz are admittedly standing on the shoulders
of those who quietly developed the technology, but we must have both to
bring out the eagerness of the early adopters and the cultural change
that hinges upon the mainstream acceptance of any new idea.
Bill Gates, that geek extraordinaire, has said:
"The Wright brothers created the single greatest cultural force since
the invention of writing. The airplane became the first world wide web,
bringing people of different languages, ideas and values together."
The next time you're slogging through security,
struggling to put your bag in the overhead compartment, or grousing
about the leg room, pause a moment to reflect on the enormity of human
flight. Recognize it for the magnificent achievement that it is, and
pay tribute to those who lived and died for its creation. Appreciate
the risk taking required in the last century to get you that window
seat.
Please remain seated until the aircraft comes to a
complete stop, and whisper words of gratitude to the Wright brothers
for their determination in discovering what it takes to make a safe
landing.
You may now move freely about the cabin. Please
refrain from complaining.
Thank you for flying for us, Wilbur and Orville.
About the Author
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse. Her work
has inspired thinkers in over 70 countries around the world. This
article appeared previously in the Friday Mind Massage, a free weekly
ezine serving up a satisfying blend of clarity, comfort and comic
relief. To subscribe, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.
maya@massageyourmind.com | 