In the meantime, the brothers approached United States Congress about a possible sale only to be met with a letter of rejection. Part of this rejection stems from the fact that Congress funded Langley for "his $50,000 fiasco" (Dempsey 69). Dempsey asserts that the brothers were "very generous in their proposal" (69). They were also convinced that "war could be prevented with their airplane" (69). Despite rejection, they continued to improve upon their flying machine. However, things did not go well. Four trial flights after these inquisitions ended in accidents. In October of that year, the brothers flew the plane for the longest time ever recorded, which was 38 minutes at 38 miles per hour. The brothers wrote to the Secretary of War, offering to sell their craft. Again, they met rejection with the reason being that the "device must be brought to the stage of practical operation without expense to the United States" (Dempsey 71). Dempsey surmises that the government "almost let the greatest invention of the new century slip away" (71) because it did not bother to do any fact checking on its own. Funding, a well-deserved patent, and support were things that the Wright brothers never experienced. Their lesson to all is to never give up when pursuing a dream. They did not wait because if they had waited, they were still not guaranteed a patent not were they assured that they would be the first to fly. Orville and Wilbur Wright were more than just inventors. While it is true that being remembered for building the first heavier-than-air flying machine...

Their difficulties should remind all of us that nothing good comes without some challenges. Today we are allowed the privilege of flight and we enjoy it tremendously. Manned flight is something that does not seem shocking to us at all. What we should remember when we look at airplanes flying overhead or while we are sitting in an airplane looking out across the clouds is that the invention was not easy. Two men, virtually on their own, had enough courage and determination to continue trying even though most would have given up. The Wright brothers believed in themselves and that belief obviously pushed them to try harder. Without support, the thorough knowledge of construction, and a working patent, the men were not deterred. To imagine flying while on the ground and then to achieve it is something only they will know. They were brave because they attempted to fly; they were strong because they did not give up; and they were heroes because they succeed beyond incredible odds.
Works Cited

Crouch, Tom. The Bishops Boys: A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright. New York W.W. Norton and Company. 1989.

Crouch, Tom. A Dream of Wings. New York W.W. Norton and Company. 2002

Dempsey, Judith. A Tale of Two Brothers: The Story of the Wright Brothers. Victoria; Trafford Publishing. 2003.

Goddard, Stephen. Race to the Sky: The Wright Brothers vs. The United States Government. Jefferson City: MacFarland and…