By 1903, inventors and adventurers in Britain and France were launching their own experimental aircraft skyward. In the U.S., crowds gathered outside Washington, D.C. to see Samuel Langley of the Smithsonian Institution test his highly-anticipated “aerodrome”, only to watch the machine crash in the Potomac River. But on December 17th, 1903, on the sand dunes of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Wilbur Wright climbed onto the lower wing of his homemade “Flyer” to make history.Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts and see American history through a whole new lens. Imagine it's late afternoon on December 8th, 1903. You're sitting atop a houseboat on the icy Potomac River, a few miles south of Washington, D.C.
You're a mechanic and test pilot, and you're about to climb into the cockpit of an experimental flying machine called the Aerodrome, the brainchild of your boss, Samuel Langley, of the Smithsonian Institution. You previously tried to launch the steel-framed bird with its 48-foot wingspan back in October. But back then, it dove straight into the river.
So today, you're hoping the engine you built will propel the aerodrome into the sky and into the record books. But unfortunately, the wind has kicked up. I'm not sure about this wind, boss. Maybe we'd be safer to postpone. No, with this cold, if we wait any longer, the river might ice over completely. And maybe we should wait till spring. Not a chance.
I've spent four years and $50,000 of public funding on this. Plus another $20,000 I raised myself. The investors and the public want to see something. You look out at the crowds lining the shore and boats filled with the journalists, scientists, and military officers Langley invited. So it's now or never? Yeah. If we wait until spring, the funding will have dried up entirely. We have to fly now.
But you're not in a hurry because of the Wright brothers, are you? You and Langley have both been following the success of the Wright brothers, who've been flying their homemade gliders off the dunes of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Bicycle makers from Ohio? They've had some luck, yeah. But they're amateurs. It will be well-funded scientists and engineers like you and me that will lead the way.
All right then, Professor. I guess we should go ahead and fly this beast. Langley climbs down a ladder and shoves off in a small boat. You turned your assistant. Fire up the engine. In an instant, the 52-horsepower engine you helped build is humming beautifully. Then you raise your right arm. All right, when I drop my arm, hold the release. Okay, let her go.
The aerodrome rolls down the 60-foot catapult track, but as soon as it clears the rails, you feel it jerk backwards. Looking up at the dark winter skies, it flips over. A sudden blur of noise and splintering wood. The cold water of the river engulfs you. You're wearing a cork jacket for flotation, but it's snagged on a piece of metal, and the sinking machine is pulling you under.
You rip off the jacket and kick toward the surface, swimming through a tangle of wires and wood, then finally into open water. You see Langley's small boat up ahead and begin to swim for it. He reaches out towards you and pulls you aboard. Then Langley throws a blanket over your shivering shoulders. You see the look of shock and disappointment on his face.
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