Everybody was watching Samuel Langley. He had backing from the Smithsonian and the War Department, and the press followed his every move. Meanwhile two bicycle makers from Ohio, Wilbur and Orville Wright, worked in relative obscurity. They made more than a thousand glides off Big Kill Devil Hill, learning to actually fly before they ever added an engine. When they couldn’t find a light enough engine, they built their own. On December 17, 1903, Orville kept their machine in the air for about 120 feet. It doesn’t sound like much. Later that day Wilbur flew 852 feet in 59 seconds. Then they sent their dad a matter-of-fact telegram. Quiet, patient faithfulness in small things often goes further than all the attention in the world.
