Building a 1903 Wright 'Flyer' - By committee

Abstract

This is a summary of a lecture intended primarily as a progress report of the Los Angeles AIAA Section Wright Flyer Project. Begun in late 1978, the project is devoted chiefly to construction of two replicas of the 1903 Wright 'Flyer.' The first, now being covered, is an exact replica intended for full-scale wind tunnel tests. The second will be a flying replica, incorporating minimal modifications to produce a less unstable aircraft. Partly in preparation for the second aircraft, considerable attention has been given to the aerodynamics, stability, and control of the 1903 'Flyer.' Wind tunnel tests have been conducted with a 1/6 flexible model, and a 1/8 scale steel model tested at full-scale Reynolds numbers. The data have provided basis for analyzing both the closed-loop and open-loop performance of the aircraft. Another aspect of the Project has been concerned with the history of early aeronautics, especially as related to the Wright Brothers' work. Thus a significant portion of the lecture is given to aeronautical history both before and after 1903, to provide a better appreciation for the Wrights' achievements and a clearer perspective of their work in the context of aeronautical progress.