Wright Flyer.

[Bill Glaze]

Just watched a show on the History channel last night.  The Wrights used 
wing warping, without knowing at the time about adverse yaw.  (They 
later corrected this omission with a steerable rudder.) I saw one of 
their early man-carrying gliders replicated. When  it tried to turn, it 
actually slid sideways down the slope of air, spanwise, until the lower 
wing tip hit the sand.  Looking at their difficulties, it is hard to 
believe they enjoyed the level of success they did.
Several replicators on this TV show changed things so much I would be 
embarrassed to call it a Wright Flyer.  Harley engines, Briggs and 
Stratton engines, (with an electric starter, no less!) were used, the 
tail moments were changed, wheeled landing gear, etc. etc. until the 
airplane didn't even look like the Wrights airplane.
The people who have flown replicas, (mostly very experienced pilots) 
have said that the original was very hard to fly.  Must have been.  I'll 
take a Boeing.
But, having been privileged to see the original in the NASM, I couldn't 
help but be filled with awe and reverence at what the Wrights had 
accomplished.
Bill Glaze

Henderson,Eric wrote:

>  I have been avidly following the progress of the Wright Flyer 
> replica. It's driving me nuts watching them try to fly it. (Is there 
> an aeronautical engineer on the project? - looks a lot like pilots and 
> carpenters)
>  
>  
> From where I sit, admittedly in my arm chair, the thing looks, acts 
> and flies very TAIL HEAVY!
>  
> The engines are behind the CG on the wings. There's almost nothing up 
> front to bring the CG to a decent stable point. Am I off base here?
>  
> Also I have meddled with models of the plane a little. Wing warping 
> that goes only goes down induces worse wash-in at the slowest of 
> speeds and is pretty nasty in the model. Instead of lifting the wing 
> it drags it back making the plane turn adversely to the intended 
> input. I know that they were trying to fly an exact replica so they 
> went with everything as true to history as possible, but it is 
> frustrating watching it struggle.
>  
> Any thoughts,
>  
> Regards,
>
> Eric.
>  
>  

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