Truth is Important

In the late 19^th and into the first three years of the 20^th centuries, controlled and powered flight was a concept soon to be realized.  It had some of the best scientific minds working on the development of aviation technologies. Lilienthal, Langley, and Edison were all competing to build the first successful flying machine.

Why, then, is it that a couple of high school dropouts who built and repaired bicycles for a living were the first to achieve controlled and powered flight?

It is quite simple. The Wrights were outside the respected circle of scientist and were not afraid to question their findings. They figured there must be something wrong fundamentally because flight was possible in theory but all tests resulted in failure. They question the accuracy of Otto Lilienthal’s formula for calculating lift and drag in wing design, a formula that they and everyone else used. In 1901 the Wright's tests failed.  In 1902 they adjusted the formula and redesigned with the wings and the tests were successful.  In 1903, they installed an engine on their workable glider and successfully flew their machine three times on December 17, before returning to Dayton, Ohio. On Christmas day the image was developed and the photograph printed, evidence that they were first in flight. 

A public domain image of the first flight in Kitty Hawk, NC on December 17, 1903.

What are we to learn from this? When our data is wrong, we may make decisions and take action that lead to failure – no matter how many times we try. Just as the Wright’s searched and found, then applied truth, we must also in order for right thinking and right action to contribute to our personal happiness and success.

It is vital that we have the truth as our foundation or we must lower our expectations and settle for mediocre if not failure.