Flights Before the Wrights: Octave Chanute, Chicago aeronautical pioneer, engineer, teacher

Web Exhibits: Crerar Library The University of Chicago Library
  • Introduction and About the Exhibit
  • Acknowledgements
  • Rights and Reproductions
  • Coming to America
  • Engineering
  • Accomplishments
  • Aeronautics
  • World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago
  • Spreading the Word
  • The Next Step
  • Building and Testing Gliders
  • Lilienthal-Type Machine
  • Katydid
  • "How Does it Feel to Fly?"
  • The Experiments Continued
  • 1896 Chanute-Type Biplane
  • Would Be Aviators Contacted Him
  • The Wright Brothers
  • The Last Major Article by Chanute
  • Highlights from Aviation History
  • Space

The Wright Brothers

A friendship developed in which Chanute was a true mentor. The Wright's documented, described and explained each step of their progress, always asking for Chanute's comments. In 1901, the Wright brothers invited Chanute to come and join them at Kitty Hawk. Chanute arrived, and even though he was impressed with their accomplishments, the Wrights themselves were very disappointed with the results. "Not within a thousand years would man ever fly!"

Chanute then suggested that Wilbur and Orville come to Chicago and speak to a Special Meeting (or "Ladies Night") of the Western Society of Engineers on 18 September 1901.

It is generally believed that in preparing for this meeting, the two brothers carefully reexamined each aspect of their experiments to that point. They decided to continue their work on flying machines, and eventually gained a place in aviation history.

Work Shed

Photo taken in front of the Wrights' work shed at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, August 1901.
Left to right: Edward C. Huffaker and Octave Chanute seated, Wilbur Wright standing, and George Spratt sitting on ground.
Courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University. Repository number: 15-5-21; N494.
First Powered Flight

First powered flight, December 17 1903. "First powered flight, December 17, 1903.
Orville Wright, pilot; Wilbur Wright is running and watching the Wright 1903 flyer taking off. The Wrights estimated the duration of the flight at 12 seconds." Wright State University.
Courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University. Repository number: 16-2-6; N203.

Flights Before the Wrights: Octave Chanute, Chicago aeronautical pioneer, engineer, teacher
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