I got to read a preview copy via NetGalley. I appreciated the attempt by Richard P. Hallion to cover the testing of Orville and Wilbur Wright of powered flight both before and after 17 December 1903. You can read about the glider testing, briefly about the wind tunnel tests, the use of catapults, and so much more. Even the first attempts to put a gun on an airplane to provide close air support long before the days of modern airpower.

This is not a full history in that it's intended to be acute. The book is also not formatted as well as it could be for electronic devices to read. Hence only four stars of five.

The latest in a series of Osprey books on X-planes, or experimental planes. This book covers the very earliest planes developed by the Wright brothers, which were all basically experimental planes. The text is very concise but with a good balance of detail. Illustrations are superb as is typical of Osprey publications.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Most Osprey books tend to be on the shorter side and this is no different. If you are looking for a detailed description of the development of Wright aircraft and the lives of the Wright brothers this is not it. Go to David McCollough's treatment. The best part of this book are the drawings of the various Wright Flyers and the photos not seen elsewhere.

Most of us know of the Wright Brothers and their historic flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. I was also among those who had no clue what happened next to Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright Flyers: 1899-1916 rectified that situation.

Though this is a short book, it is packed with facts and interesting historical footnotes. There are many records and accomplishments the brothers achieved during the seventeen years described covered in the book, firmly cementing them as inventors that greatly influenced the aeronautical industry. Including the dimensions and materials used to build their planes was a welcome addition, something you don’t normally find. There were also plenty of pictures to aid the descriptions. When one considers that many of the planes were scrapped, pictures represent all we have left of what the Wright Brothers created. I felt the Further Reading section included more than enough suggestions to make even the most voracious reader happy.

I never realized how dangerous it was for these pioneers of the sky, as many of them risked their lives to contribute to this fledging science and some of them lost the gamble and paid with the ultimate sacrifice. Author Richard P. Hallion possesses a succinct style of writing, and the book flows quickly from chapter to chapter. I felt the sidebar stories were important, though some of them included much of the same facts already related in the body of the story. Regardless, this is a solid effort and a great place to start if your knowledge of the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments needs to be increased. Four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Osprey Publishing for an advance electronic copy of this book.