Answer :
Final answer:
The Wright Brothers kept their work on developing the airplane secret to protect their intellectual property, maintain a competitive edge, and guard against the copying of their ideas. They understood the importance of having comprehensive records for patent purposes and protection against lawsuits, making secrecy a strategic measure in their pioneering work.
Explanation:
The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were keen on keeping their work on the airplane a secret due to several reasons. Firstly, they were aware of the potential commercial and strategic value of their invention and wanted to secure patents to protect their intellectual property. Their caution was also informed by the experiences of other inventors whose open sharing led to ideas being copied without credit or compensation. Moreover, the Wright Brothers were competing against other inventors in a race to achieve controlled powered flight, and secrecy ensured that they could maintain an advantage. Their methodical approach to solving flight problems through scientific experimentation and detailed documentation provided them with a crucial edge. They applied this meticulous approach to their work, keeping comprehensive records of each experiment, failure, and success, understanding its importance for patent applications and protecting against potential lawsuits or disputes. This was critical during the era when breakthrough inventions like the airplane and the internal combustion engine were often met with skepticism or opposition. Secrecy, thus, was a strategic choice that helped them become pioneers in aviation history.