We can but wonder whether, just over a century ago, Orville Wright would ever have gotten the Flyer off the ground (and where would air transportation be today?) if, on December 17 1903:
- Wilbur Wright had called in sick.
- And so had all the members of the Gas Can Carriers Union, in furtherance of a contract dispute.
- Light rain had been falling, requiring a weather cancellation.
- Orville and Wilbur's toolbag had been mistakenly routed to Cleveland.
- Orville's slide-rule had crashed, due to over-programming combined with bad weather, preventing him for several hours from making essential wind speed and direction computations.
- A by-stander had been spotted striking a match on his shoe to light his pipe, leading to an on-site inspection of all shoes and pipes in the area.
- A lady by-stander wearing a head scarf against the cold wind, had been mistakenly profiled as a suspicious Mideasterner of interest instead of a Midwesterner; and wrestled to the ground by federal air marshals, causing further weather-related delays.
- Hordes of federal officials had gathered to declare the flight unsafe and unapproved.
- Orville had been detained, the field cleared, and the aircraft grounded, upon discovery that he was attempting to carry a canvas repair kit containing a sharp implement aboard the machine.
- Creditors had gathered to seize the Flyer - nailing a writ to its mast, so to speak - declaring the venture bankrupt.
..................Happy flying in 2009!
No comments:
Post a Comment