Bravo Golf, an aviation brand known for providing pilots with personalized, functional and elegant timepieces, is launching a new series in collaboration with The Wright Brothers®. This limited-edition collection, known as “The Wrights of Passage” consists of three distinct models, honoring not only the legendary aviation pioneers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, but also the often-overlooked family members who supported and inspired them in their groundbreaking achievements.
Customers of Bravo Golf timepieces value the unique designs, practicality, and personal significance embedded in each watch, making them a highly respected and sought-after brand within the aviation community. These same design principles have deeply influenced the new limited edition Wright series, seamlessly blending Bravo Golf’s signature style with the rich heritage of aviation’s pioneers.
The collection’s three watches—The Brothers, The Katharine, and The Bishop—pay tribute to the legacy of the Wright family. Each timepiece tells a different story, connecting aviation’s past with its present and future through meticulous design and historical significance. “Our goal was to create more than just a watch; we wanted to honor the entire Wright family’s contributions to aviation,” says Beau Garrett, founder of Bravo Golf. “Collaborating with their legacy on this series is not only an honor, but it’s also a way to celebrate the spirit of aviation that unites us all.”
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The Brothers
The Brothers watch celebrates Wilbur and Orville Wright, the pioneers who unlocked the secrets of powered flight and made history with their 1903 Flyer. Their journey to powered flight required solving three fundamental challenges: lift, thrust, and control. At first, they relied on existing knowledge from sources like the Smithsonian, but they quickly discovered flaws in the data. Through their own experiments, the Wright brothers redefined the lift equation, developing the precise wing dimensions needed to generate the required lift under specific conditions.
Next, the brothers tackled thrust. Many believed that boat-propeller designs would work in the air, but the Wright brothers realized an airplane propeller needed to function like a rotating wing. Using this insight, they hand-carved their own propellers, pioneering a formula that became the foundation of modern propeller design.
However, the greatest challenge they faced was control. Previous attempts at flight assumed turning an aircraft was as simple as steering left or right. This method often ended in disaster.
While studying birds at Kitty Hawk, the Wrights observed how they controlled flight by twisting their wings in opposite directions, enabling them to roll through the air. Inspired by this, Wilbur had a breakthrough in their bicycle shop, realizing they could apply the same principle to their glider wings. This led to the development of wing-warping technology, a game-changing innovation that allowed the Wrights to achieve controlled flight—something no other experimenters of their day had conceived or could replicate.
With only 200 pieces available, the Brothers model features an engraving of the wing-warping design that forever changed aviation. “For The Brothers timepiece, we wanted to create something that not only honors the craftsmanship of Wilbur and Orville but also pays tribute to their revolutionary thinking,” says Garrett. “Their ability to see beyond conventional wisdom and innovate was their superpower. Their breakthrough in control was truly inspired and captures the spirit of Orville’s sentiment:
‘If we worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true really is true, then there would be little hope for advance.’”
The Katharine
Named after their sister, The Katharine honors the woman known as “the light of the family.” Katharine Wright’s unwavering support and inspiration was essential in helping her brothers achieve their dream of bringing flight to the world. Beyond emotional and financial support, she managed international correspondence, served as their primary advocate, and promoted their work tirelessly, ensuring that the Wrights’ invention gained the global recognition it deserved.
Without her diplomatic skills and public relations efforts, the brothers’ success in promoting their groundbreaking invention to the world might have faltered. Her influence was so great that when she and her brothers were in France, all three were awarded the French Legion of Honor, a testament to her vital role in their achievements. As Orville Wright famously said, “When the world speaks of the Wrights, it must include our sister. Much of our effort has been inspired by her.”
To commemorate her contributions, The Katharine timepiece will feature an engraving of the Wright Flyer itself on the case back, symbolizing her indispensable role in the brothers’ historic journey. “She was more than just a sister,” explains Garrett, “she was a diplomat, an advocate, and a steadfast inspiration to her brothers, who helped bring their generational breakthrough to the world.” Limited to only 100 pieces, this model is a tribute to Katharine’s pivotal role in aviation and her enduring legacy.
The Bishop
Perhaps the most personal piece of the collection is The Bishop, named after Milton Wright, the father of the Wright family. Milton was not only a father but a guiding force who inspired and nurtured his sons’ curiosity. It was his gift of a toy Penaud helicopter that first sparked Wilbur and Orville’s fascination with flight, igniting the passion that would eventually lead to their historic achievements. But Milton’s influence went beyond a simple gift – he instilled in his children a deep sense of perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and the belief that they could achieve anything they set their minds to.
A bishop in the United Brethren Church, Milton encouraged his sons to follow their own paths, often providing thoughtful guidance and unwavering moral support. His belief in education and his own wide-ranging interests in science and technology fostered a rich environment of inquiry within the Wright household. In fact, it was a book from Milton’s own library, on bird mechanics, that Wilbur read as his first resource when studying the methods of flight. This early introduction to the science of aerodynamics was a key moment in Wilbur and Orville’s journey toward unlocking the secrets of flight.
Limited to only 50 pieces, The Bishop watch features engravings of the toy Penaud helicopter that Milton gifted to his sons – a poignant reminder of how a single moment of encouragement can help to shape history.
A Family Legacy
Quotes from the Wright brothers themselves further illuminate the family’s role in their success. “We were lucky enough to grow up in an environment where there was always much encouragement to pursue intellectual interests,” Orville once said. He credited their father for fostering that curiosity, noting, “If my father had not been the kind who encouraged his children to pursue intellectual interests without any thought of profit, our early curiosity about flying would have been nipped too early to bear fruit.”
Similarly, Wilbur Wright reflected on his upbringing when advising others: “Pick out a good father and mother, and begin life in Ohio.” These sentiments encapsulate the driving force behind Bravo Golf’s collection – the idea that the Wrights’ journey was as much about family as it was about flight.
As described, each watch in this collection features an engraving that represents the enduring legacy of the Wright family, from their breakthrough technologies to the personal moments that shaped aviation history.
A Serendipitous Meeting
The collaboration between Bravo Golf and the Wright Brothers began serendipitously. Bravo Golf’s founder, Beau Garrett, shared how his son’s school report on the Wright Brothers led to a chance meeting with Ken Botts from the Wright Brothers USA at the Sun ‘n’ Fun event in Florida. “This partnership began with my son’s fascination with the Wright Brothers’ story,” recounts Garrett. “For his spring school project, he was tasked with picking any significant figure from American history to research and write a report on. Out of everyone he could have chosen, he chose the Wrights. Later that spring, when we were at the Sun ‘n’ Fun event in Lakeland, Fla. he saw the Wright Brothers USA booth and was immediately drawn to it. A conversation started soon thereafter between Kenneth Botts, the president of Wright Brothers USA and myself.”
That conversation led to a partnership that delved deep into the archives of the Wright family. Bravo Golf’s team toured historical sites in Dayton, Ohio, and pored over personal diaries, technical drawings, and artifacts to ensure every detail of the watches remained true to the Wright legacy.
Garrett notes, “This collection really reflects that deep connection we, as pilots, all feel to aviation’s beginnings, and I can’t wait for you to see them when they’re released. It’s more than just a watch – it’s a tribute to the entire legacy we’re a part of.
Pre-orders for The Brothers, The Katharine, and The Bishop will be available starting October 5, 2024, at https://www.flybravogolf.com/pages/wrights-of-passage. Additionally, a portion of all proceeds are committed to The Wright Brothers® family foundation, which is focused on further inspiring and educating future aviators and preserving the legacy of the Wright Brothers.
For additional information, high-resolution images, or interview opportunities, please contact [Joel Allen] at [[email protected]].
The Wright Brothers and other marks ®, ™ and © by The Wright Brothers Family Foundation, LLC, used under license through The Wright Brothers USA, LLC. Royalties earned pursuant to this license benefit The Wright Brothers Family Foundation, LLC and its mission of preserving the legacy of the Wright brothers.
