WRIGHT BROTHERS Aeroplane
Company
To make the make your inner tube box twist as Wilbur did, you must hold it just right and squeeze the proper corners. |
Click on a photo to enlarge it. |
| 1. Hold two diagonal corners on the one end of the box between your thumb and index finger. With your other hand, hold the two opposite diagonal corners in the same manner. |  Hold the box as shown. |
| 2. Gently squeeze both sets of corners together. The box will take on a spiral twist (also called a helicoidal twist). |  Gently squeeze the corners together to twist the box in one direction. |
| 3. To twist the box in the other direction, shift your grip so you holding the opposite sets of diagonal corners. Then squeeze. Or, if you don't want to let go of the box, simply spread the corners that you're already holding. This brings the opposite set of corners together, and the twist reverses itself. |  Spread the corners to reverse the twist. |
| 4. Look at the box from the side as you squeeze and spread the corners. Wilbur saw the top and bottom of his box as the wings of a biplane, each side presenting itself at a different angle to the wind. This, he knew, would create a difference in lift. When the wings were twisted, one side would have more than the other. The side with increased lift would rise, while the side with decreased lift would sink. This would cause the biplane to roll right or left. He showed this to Orville, and the two brothers decided to build a model glider to test Wilbur's idea. Wilbur flew the model as a kite in late July 1899. And it worked. |  You should get this sort of action. |