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Brian Page
Brian Page had the great good fortune to grow up on an Air Force base near Satellite Beach, Florida, in the early years of the space race, surrounded by all sorts of fascinating aircraft and missiles. His boyhood heroes were the original seven astronauts who parked their T-38 Talon jets at the hanger where his dad worked. Later, Brian earned a master’s degree in the history of science from Virginia Tech and became a light sport pilot. He now writes about science and technology from his home near Atlanta, Georgia.
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Ten Questions with the Author
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida. My dad was in the Air Force and stationed at Patrick Air Force Base. It was a great place and time to be a kid. I had airplanes, rockets, and the beach. These were the boom years of the space program, so the whole community was focused on getting the Apollo astronauts to the moon.
What was your favorite part of school?
Working on my high school newspaper. It was a lot of fun finding stories among my classmates, writing them up, taking photographs, and then working with a team to publish an award-winning monthly newspaper that had to be good enough for students to buy.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Ask for help. Your teachers are not the enemy. Seek out teachers and adults to serve as mentors who can help you achieve your dreams. Oh, and don’t play the drums. Play the clarinet instead.
If you could time travel to any place and time, where would you go?
That one’s easy. I’d go to London in the time of Queen Elizabeth I and hear a play by Shakespeare in the original Globe Theatre, maybe solve a few mysteries while I’m there, too.
You’re a historian by training but you worked as an engineer. What about that?
That was a tough choice, and one that I had to make. A lot of it boiled down to the opportunities available at the time. I have a deep love for the study of history, but my work as a systems engineer in the computer industry was fascinating, challenging, and well-paying. Still, I’m not sure that I made the right choice.
What got you interested in history?
That’s hard to say, but I think it was because I’m interested in everything. I’m just curious. I’m one of those kids who keeps asking, “Why?” Everything has a history, and being a historian gives you the chance to deep-dive into whatever catches your fancy.
What’s the coolest airplane you’ve ever flown?
Keep in mind that I’m a historian. I got to fly right-seat in the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 1929 Ford Tri-Motor. It’s amazing to not just be able to touch a piece of history but to actually fly such a special and historic aircraft. Can you imagine the tales it could tell if it could talk? So, the Tri-Motor was definitely cool, but the most fun aircraft I’ve flown is the Diamond DA-20, a low-wing T-tail that is just a joy.
What aircraft would you like to fly?
That’s easy. Aside from one of NASA’s T-38 Talons, right now I have my heart set on an ultralight, the Aerolite 103 – low and slow, face in the wind, just like the Wright brothers. If I could get some hanger space, I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
Why did you write The Wright Engineers?
In school I pretty much picked up the standard story of the Wright brothers as a couple of geniuses who went to Kitty Hawk, built a couple of gliders, then put an engine on one and flew off into history. When I got to grad school and started looking deeply into a lot of early 20th century technologies – like Robert Goddard's rockets and early radio technology – I discovered that the standard Wright brothers’ story was woefully incomplete. The wind tunnel testing of airfoils at 2.5° increments told me that the Flyer was a precision machine and that the brothers were sophisticated engineers – and that's a story that's every bit as fascinating as any whodunit.
Last question: Which is better, Star Wars or Harry Potter?
Oh, come on! No one should have to make that choice… Okay, okay, when the chips are down, I’ll have to go with Star Wars. I mean, I can’t imagine flying a broomstick. But who wouldn’t want to fly an X-wing fighter and blow up the Death Star?
I grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida. My dad was in the Air Force and stationed at Patrick Air Force Base. It was a great place and time to be a kid. I had airplanes, rockets, and the beach. These were the boom years of the space program, so the whole community was focused on getting the Apollo astronauts to the moon.
What was your favorite part of school?
Working on my high school newspaper. It was a lot of fun finding stories among my classmates, writing them up, taking photographs, and then working with a team to publish an award-winning monthly newspaper that had to be good enough for students to buy.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Ask for help. Your teachers are not the enemy. Seek out teachers and adults to serve as mentors who can help you achieve your dreams. Oh, and don’t play the drums. Play the clarinet instead.
If you could time travel to any place and time, where would you go?
That one’s easy. I’d go to London in the time of Queen Elizabeth I and hear a play by Shakespeare in the original Globe Theatre, maybe solve a few mysteries while I’m there, too.
You’re a historian by training but you worked as an engineer. What about that?
That was a tough choice, and one that I had to make. A lot of it boiled down to the opportunities available at the time. I have a deep love for the study of history, but my work as a systems engineer in the computer industry was fascinating, challenging, and well-paying. Still, I’m not sure that I made the right choice.
What got you interested in history?
That’s hard to say, but I think it was because I’m interested in everything. I’m just curious. I’m one of those kids who keeps asking, “Why?” Everything has a history, and being a historian gives you the chance to deep-dive into whatever catches your fancy.
What’s the coolest airplane you’ve ever flown?
Keep in mind that I’m a historian. I got to fly right-seat in the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 1929 Ford Tri-Motor. It’s amazing to not just be able to touch a piece of history but to actually fly such a special and historic aircraft. Can you imagine the tales it could tell if it could talk? So, the Tri-Motor was definitely cool, but the most fun aircraft I’ve flown is the Diamond DA-20, a low-wing T-tail that is just a joy.
What aircraft would you like to fly?
That’s easy. Aside from one of NASA’s T-38 Talons, right now I have my heart set on an ultralight, the Aerolite 103 – low and slow, face in the wind, just like the Wright brothers. If I could get some hanger space, I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
Why did you write The Wright Engineers?
In school I pretty much picked up the standard story of the Wright brothers as a couple of geniuses who went to Kitty Hawk, built a couple of gliders, then put an engine on one and flew off into history. When I got to grad school and started looking deeply into a lot of early 20th century technologies – like Robert Goddard's rockets and early radio technology – I discovered that the standard Wright brothers’ story was woefully incomplete. The wind tunnel testing of airfoils at 2.5° increments told me that the Flyer was a precision machine and that the brothers were sophisticated engineers – and that's a story that's every bit as fascinating as any whodunit.
Last question: Which is better, Star Wars or Harry Potter?
Oh, come on! No one should have to make that choice… Okay, okay, when the chips are down, I’ll have to go with Star Wars. I mean, I can’t imagine flying a broomstick. But who wouldn’t want to fly an X-wing fighter and blow up the Death Star?