Wright Flyer.

[Ed Miller]

The spirit and intent was and is to replicate the Wright Flyer, and hopefully that historic moment of flight to the exact detail on the history making 100th anniversary. Sure, 100 years later even a bunch of ARF building modelers can think of ways to improve the Wright Flyer, but that isn't the point of this exercise. Without the Wright Flyer and the vision and determination of the Wright brothers, we might not be here to arm chair quarterback this. This team of  "pilots and carpenters" 100 years later possess the skills, determination and most importantly the desire to try and re-create one of the most significant events in human history. Re-creating the Wright Flyer down to the level and detail this team has including building a replication of the original engine, surely displays this team engineering prowess. The Wright Brothers did not have 100 years of aeronautical theory and design to fall back on, every step forward they took was a step into un-chartered waters and we today reap the benefits of their dedication and perseverance. This team approached this monumental task with the same mindset. 
When the wind and humidity is right and lady luck is on their side ( exactly what the Wright brothers had 100 years ago ), they will successfully fly the Wright Flyer re-creation. 
Everything you enjoy about flight came from the Wright Flyer and the vision of the Wright Brothers. 
Pay the team 100 years later the respect they deserve in trying to bring to all of us that magic moment.
Ed M.
----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Henderson,Eric 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 9:59 AM
  Subject: Wright Flyer.


   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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