1910 Hudson-Flier project photos

Wind In The Wires · 18 August 2005, 09:08 PM

Very nice work. The difference between the Wright's ribs and spars and Curtiss' is interesting.

Since you're going to fly this I'm hoping that you have had an aeronautical engineer do a stress analysis on it. Papers from the Smithsonian indicate the Wrights designed their aircraft to a safety factor of 5 but I haven't seen any similar analysis of Curtiss' early craft.

Please keep posting the photos of your construction as it progresses.

Hudson-Flier · 25 August 2005, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the comments !

Work is progressing, but very slowly at this point.

There is an aeronautical engineer that volunteers at the Museum, who assists with those kinds of concerns.

We are also fabricating the wing to the same specifications as an original Curtiss wing (of which we have a complete 5' section of)

Hopefully will have more pictures to post in a week or two.

EDIT: We are actually building the wings to be stronger than the originals, however, they will look the same in appearance.

baldeagle · 25 August 2005, 02:12 PM

Did you know that the famous autogyro pilot Johnny Miller, who at 98 or 99 still lives in Poughkeepsie, and still has a current pilot's license, saw Glenn Curtiss land at Poughkeepsie during the Albany-NY flight? He had an article a few years ago about it in the EAA Vintage Airplane magazine.

Hudson-Flier · 25 August 2005, 04:21 PM

I had the distinct honor of meeting him in person a few weeks ago, at the landing site in Poughkeepsie, which is at the corner of Route 9 and IBM Road.

Our hosts were IBM officials, and one of the owners of Bethlehem Art Gallery.

He is very much a genuine aviator, and his stories are incredible.

Someone should do a movie about this gentleman.

A simple google search using the term "pilot John Miller" will help explain why.

I am hoping to include him somehow in this project, and we are all being optomistic about him participating in the centennial flight in 2010.

He has graciously offered whatever assistance he can provide.

Hudson-Flier · 28 August 2005, 07:41 AM

Here's some pictures from Saturday:

Assembling the two 30 inch wide wing extensions that attach to the upper wing.

Here is a shot of the almost completed 5 foot wide upper wing sections.
Four of these need to be made, plus one center section 73" wide.

Hudson-Flier · 10 November 2005, 05:23 AM

Update on project:

Work is continuing on the upper wing sections, which are now almost completed.

The lower wing, rudder & stabilizer are to be worked on next (over the winter)

Will have more photos posted later this year.

Hudson-Flier · 8 December 2005, 06:40 AM

Update on construction:

Most of the upper & lower wings have been assembled to some degree.

Templates for the front elevators and rear stabilizer:

"Glue-ups" of the elevator ribs and stabilizer ribs.

Hudson-Flier · 10 July 2006, 07:48 PM

Update on the Hudson Flier build at the Curtiss Museum;

We are now concentrating on the metal fittings and tin coverings for the glue joints. The rudder/elevators, and stabilizer have been assembled. Ailerons are on deck, along with the engine bearers.

The engine choice has switched back to an OX-5.

The radiator is out for fabrication, and we are also checking on rims for the landing gear.

Here are pictures

This is the rudder - still needs sanding and tin wrappings.

The stabilizer - needs sanding and tin wrappings.

The twin elevators

Here we are working on patterns for the tin, which will be waterjetted to shape.