Wright Brothers documentary recommendations
Posted by DingleBerrieIcecream@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 6 comments
Curious if anyone has a recommendation for a good documentary(s) that either focus solely on or at least contain significant time on the Wright Brothers early aircraft such as the Model A and Model A Mikitary Flyer? I’m teaching a class at the moment and would like to show students how early box kite design helped form the early ideas of aircraft design and fabrication.
novwhisky@reddit
There's surprisingly few! Haven't bought either yet but these look promising:
https://www.amazon.com/American-Experience-Wright-Stuff/dp/B00009QGB0
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DC13P
Astonishing to me there's never been a Hollywood production attempting a biopic. Maybe the brother's lack of sensational personalities and penchant for aggressive litigation discouraged the studios. It's a fascinating story for the aeronautically inclined!
scooterboy1961@reddit
There's at least one other that was not a straight documentary called The Winds of Kitty Hawk, 1978.
Ornery_Year_9870@reddit
It would be tough to make into an entertaining movie. They'd pretty much have to invent a lot of fraternal drama! The Wright family was quite serene. Wilbur & Orville got along with each other wonderfully, although they'd once in a while resolve things with a raised-voice squabble.
There was some written correspondence between the Wrights and other inventors that may have contained some disagreements....
This is an excellent biography that actually IS entertaining:
https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Brothers-David-McCullough/dp/1476728755
Ornery_Year_9870@reddit
The American Experience: The Wright Stuff
Not sure how to watch this in a classroom but I would think PBS would make it available. I believe you can buy it on DVD, new or used. https://www.amazon.com/American-Experience-Brothers-Invention-Airplane/dp/B00006ADF0
I would seriously avoid anything on Youtube.
DingleBerrieIcecream@reddit (OP)
Oh, this is very helpful. Thank you very much.
Ornery_Year_9870@reddit
If you're really interested, I strongly recommend this biography:
https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Brothers-David-McCullough/dp/1476728755