What catastrophic event involving Otto Lilienthal motivated the Wright brothers to pursue practical flight?
Answer
His fatal glider accident
Otto Lilienthal was a significant figure in aviation research, and his fatal glider accident served as a major turning point for the Wright brothers. While they were interested in flight beforehand, this tragedy helped move their pursuit from an abstract desire into a domain of necessity. It highlighted the dangers involved and emphasized the need for a more controlled, empirical approach to aeronautical design.
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