Just another day at Al’s saloon, Kitty Hawk’s social
hotspot, and, as usual, Al was in control of the
conversation. “Those two Ohio boys are just plain crazy”
he crowed, “You can’t change the laws of nature, can’t
change the laws of God”. As usual, he was met with cries of
“Hear, Hear” as the regulars raised their beers.
It was December 17, 1903, and the boys from Ohio weren’t
listening, in favor of spending time at the beach with
the flying machine they optimistically named “The Flyer”.
Turning the self-made propeller on the self-built engine,
the machine coughed, sputtered, then bellowed, ready now
for a third attempt to imitate a bird, to shed it’s bondage
to the earth.
Wilbur Wright at the controls, it lifted into the air,
bouncing up and down to a height of 10 feet before kicking up
sand some 12 seconds later and 120 feet distant. When news
reached his saloon, Al softened a bit, saying he was glad
the boy’s folly had given them a little fun, but nothing more
will ever come of it. “Hear, Hear” came the chorus, holding out
glasses as Al circled the room pouring another round.
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