1903 Wright Flyer (replica)

The 1903 Wright Flyer was built by Wilbur and Orville Wright. This was the world’s first successful engine-powered airplane controlled by a pilot. On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville Wright completed the inaugural flight, lasting 12 seconds and traveling 120 feet.

The airplane had a wingspan of 40 feet 4 inches and a total length of 21 feet 1 inch. Unoccupied, itweighed 605 lbs and was constructed of wood, covered in muslin fabric, and featured custom hand-carved wooden propellers. The airplane was powered by a custom-built 12-horsepower, 4-cylinderwater-cooled engine.

The pilot flew the craft lying face down on the lower wing and used a revolutionary three-axis controlsystem developed by the brothers. It consisted of a rudder, elevators, and wing warping which actedlike aileron in a modern aircraft.

On December 17, 1903, the brothers made four successful flights in front of witnesses. In the firstflight Orville Wright piloted the craft for a 12-second flight that covered 120 feet. The 4th and last flight was piloted by Wilbur Wright. It was the longest-lasting at 59 seconds and covered 852 feet. Unfortunately, a sudden gust of wind flipped and heavily damaged the aircraft, so it never flew again. Some years later, Orville restored and donated the airplane to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.