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North Carolina Quarter Flies with the WrightsThe North Carolina quarter reproduces a wonderful photo from 1903. It’s the one we all remember from our school books that shows the first flight of the immortal Wright Flyer.Immortal may be a bit of a stretch. After all, the world’s first successful flying machine was more like a kite than a plane. And yet, scraps of its linen fabric were taken to the moon on an Apollo mission, and the craft itself remains one of the most popular exhibits in the Smithsonian. With the care it will get (and truly deserves) the little airplane on the North Carolina quarter will last a long time. The Wright StuffTaking a cue from the coin to learn more about Orville and Wilbur Wright, the symbolism of independent and powered flight applies as well to the attitude and career choices of these two brothers as it does to their aeronautical achievement.The Wrights entered the world of work in the 1890’s during a nationwide economic slowdown. Jobs were scarce for the two Ohio boys. They really had to come up with something to do on their own. Fortunately they were both athletic, energetic, and intellectually curious. They involved themselves with producing a local newspaper, but their considerable mechanical aptitude moved their efforts toward the technical underpinnings of that business – printing. They soon were maintaining and even constructing some of their own equipment. Their athleticism manifested itself in a love of bicycle riding. True to form, they added bicycle maintenance, and soon, bicycle design, construction, and retailing to their repertoire. One of their early insights was that riding a bicycle (called “wheeling” in those days) felt much like flying. It required agility – and balance. The Wrights’ transition to actual flying conveyances – first with gliders – and eventually the 1903 powered flight in North Carolina – was a natural outcome of their expertise and experience with the tools of their prior occupations. More importantly, it reflected their independence, energy, and initiative.
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