I am a great admirer of the Wright Brothers, have read all what has been published about them. I consider that what they accomplished over less than ten years has no match in the history of technological achievements and the fact that they carried on their mission without any exterior help other than advice and encouragements from a few trusted friends is even more telling about their character. This project is all about living the Wright Bothers experience, build a plane and learn to fly it.
Now about "Vieille Burette". While Wilbur was working in France to deliver the 1908 Flyer to the French military, he got to work with French blue collar workers who did not speak more English than Wilbur spoke French. The only thing these workers got from Wilbur was his name, Wilbur Wright. The always facetious workers did not take long to "Frenchise" what they heard to "Vieille Burette" which they used affectionately to nickname Wilbur ever after.
By the way, "vieille burette" means "old oil can" , more appropriate for a man in his sixties (that would be me) than for Wilbur in his thirties! The picture below was taken at the Wright Memorial Monument at Kill Devil Hill, NC. I am standing by Wilbur's effigy.
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