1. What did Octave Chanute believe about progress in the quest for flight?

He believed that the progress of manned flight would come from many different people working on the problem. He believed that people should work together and share information.

2. How did the brothers decide to pick Kitty Hawk as their test site?

Chanute suggested a sand hill for launching and attempting flight over water (for a safer, softer landing). Out of more than six possible sites the Weather Bureau suggested Kitty Hawk for its steady winds and flat surface. It was also the least populated site, and it was remote, so they would have privacy.

3. What did their first tests at Kitty Hawk reveal to them?

Design problems:

1. angle at which the wing must meet the air
2. the necessary square footage of the wing surface
3. the amount of curvature of the wing
4. the weight a glider could carry at a safe wind speed
5. how to handle a stall (when the lift was suddenly gone)

4. How did they solve the problem of the changing center of air pressure?

They needed to work out the right size and shape for the wings' horizontal rudders, so that the rudders could counterbalance the changing center of air pressure on the wings.

5. How did they lower the wind resistance of their aircraft?

They placed the pilot in a prone or flat position.

6. What did they do with the glider after the trials were over and before they left for home?

They gave it to some locals (Mr. and Mrs. Tate) to recycle. Mrs. Tate used the material for dresses for her daughters.

7. Why do you think that the brothers did not want Chanute to write about their work in his articles?

Accept any logical answer. Some possibilities:

• they wanted to do more tests before letting people know what they were working on;
• they did not want the attention until they were sure of their work;
• they preferred to work in anonymity so they could accomplish more in less time and not be bothered while doing their work.