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Why is it so hard to fly…

Helen
3 min readAug 19, 2024

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https://unsplash.com/photos/a-bird-flying-high-in-the-sky-on-a-cloudy-day-qZsjbN29H-A

Flying has always been an elusive dream for humans. The idea of soaring through the sky like birds has captured the imagination of many over centuries. However, the reality of achieving flight has proven to be a monumental challenge. The question of ‘Why is it so hard to fly.’ has puzzled scientists, engineers, and enthusiasts alike for generations. In this essay, we will explore the historical context of flight, key figures in aviation history, the impact of the challenges of flight, influential individuals who have contributed to the field, and potential future developments related to the quest for flight.

The historical context of flight can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and the Chinese who experimented with various flying machines. However, it was not until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that significant progress was made in achieving powered flight. The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, are widely credited with inventing the first successful airplane in 1903. Their historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, paved the way for the development of modern aviation.

Despite the breakthrough achieved by the Wright brothers, flying still remains a daunting challenge. The complexity of aerodynamics, engineering, and physics involved in achieving sustained flight has stumped many inventors and engineers over the years. The challenges of flight include aerodynamic forces, lift…

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Helen
Helen

Written by Helen

I’m a board member for the Harvard Creative Writing Collective and an outreach associate director for Harvard Women in Computer Science.

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