FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY NOW, aviators have been proving that the answer is "yes" to some of mankind's most audacious questions. In 1903: Can we develop a manned aircraft that will sustain powered flight? In 1927: Can we fly across the Atlantic Ocean nonstop? In 1947: Can we fly an airplane faster than the speed of sound? I often wonder what motivates people to attempt feats such as these. The risks are high, and the reward doesn't seem to be an adequate payoff for all the uncertainty, fear, and hard work. Granted, these aviators cemented their place in history and changed the way people would travel for the rest of time. But what if a larger part of their motivation was nothing more than a simple desire to see if they could pull off a feat that many believed they would fail doing? Would a good old-fashioned challenge be enough of a reason to attempt the improbable?
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