The Wright Brothers and Sam Langley (Episode #104, 10 Sept. 2022)

I recently read the Wright Brothers by David McCullough.  Great book!!  When is an advantage really a disadvantage?  When is an advantage actually a huge advantage?   In this episode, I explore the two teams trying to achieve manned flight as outlined in McCullough's book.   Sam Langley had all of the advantages: funding, reputation, a team of experts, and experience.  Orville and Wilbur were bike shop mechanics from Dayton, Ohio. We all know who succeeded and who failed, but setting aside the innate skills each team had, what would have happened if the Wright Brothers had the funding from the Smithsonian?  In my view, they may have suffered a similar fate to Sam Langley. This is an interesting topic (at least to me!).  Do you personally have some disadvantages that are in fact gigantic advantages? In this episode, I explore the Wright Brothers turned every single one of those disadvantages to their advantage in their quest for manned flight.   I hope you'll share this with anyone lamenting where they are in life.  Sometimes, power, prestige and funds provide obstacles rather than assets. This was a fun one to do!