"In an era of dirigibles and hot air balloons, the Wright brothers were among the first innovators of heavier-than-air flight. But in the hotly competitive international race toward flight, Orville and Wilbur were up against a lot more than bad weather. Mechanical failures, lack of information, and even other aviators complicated the Wright brothers' journey. But thanks to their carefully recorded experiments and a healthy dash of bravery, the Wright brothers' flying machines took off" -- Page [4] of cover.