Allowed Quote by Orville Wright
“With twelve horse power at our command, we considered that we could permit the weight of the machine with operator to rise to 750 or 800 pounds, and still have as much surplus power as we had originally allowed for in the first estimate of 550 pounds.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with Charles Wright, 1906
He describes the aircraft’s power capacity, noting surplus power even at higher loads.
In simple terms: The machine can handle more weight than expected.
Key Takeaway
Design with safety margins for unexpected loads.
Themes
engineering
innovation
aeronautics
efficiency
design safety
Mood
pragmatic
analytical
focused
Type
technical
instructional
When to use this quote
- aircraft design
- mechanical testing
- capacity planning
Key Concepts
systems engineering
performance analysis
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- How much surplus power is truly needed?
- What safety factors should be applied?
A Different Perspective
Assumes technology remains unchanged; modern standards differ.
