Wright Flyer
The Wright Flyer, also referred to as Flyer I and Kitty Hawk, was the first successful powered, piloted, controlled heavier-than-air aircraft. Made of spruce and ash covered with muslin, it was designed and built by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. The engine was built from scratch by the brothers’ employee, Charlie Taylor. A sprocket chain drive, borrowed from bicycle technology, powered the twin propellers, which were also made by hand.
The Flyer was a canard biplane configuration. The pilot flew lying on his stomach on the lower wing, with his head toward the front of the aircraft and his left hand operating the elevator control. Lateral control was achieved by warping the wing tips in opposite directions via wires attached to a hip cradle mounted on the lower wing. The pilot shifted his hips from side to side to operate the mechanism, which also moved the rudder.
On December 14, 1903, Wilbur was the first to pilot the Flyer after winning a coin toss. However, he pulled up too sharply, stalled, and brought the plane back down with minor damage. On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright Flyer achieved controlled, sustained flight. With Orville at the controls, the plane took off from a launching rail and flew for 12 seconds and a distance of 120 feet. The airplane was flown three more times that day, with the brothers alternating turns. Wilbur made the longest flight, flying for 59 seconds and 852 feet.
Filed Under History
Comments
Leave a Reply