Wright Model A Returns To Fort Myer

NewBill · 29 August 2008, 01:14 AM

Folks in the U.S. near the Washington DC area should know that on September 6, 2008, Fort Myer will be having an open house to commemorate the demonstration flights made there by Orville Wright during September, 1908. Descendants of some of the major players are set to attend, and a reproduction of the Model A Wright Flyer will be on hand. Though it will not put on any demo flights, there might be an engine run or two.

The 1908 Wright machine was the first airplane built for a military customer, and the trials at Fort Myer were the first public demonstration flights made by the Wrights in the U.S. Headlines created by these flights and concurrent flights by Wilbur Wright in France made the Wright brothers celebrities.

The National Air & Space Museum and the College Park Aviation Museum will both have a large presence at the Fort Myer event, as will Ken Hyde's Wright Experience, builders of the reproduction. Much of Fort Myer itself looks a lot like it did in 1908, and reenactors will be on hand in period dress.

The U.S. Army is taking the opportunity to show visitors where we have come from and where we are going. Future Combat Systems will be showcased, and some very advanced hardware will be on hand.

NewBill · 29 August 2008, 04:57 PM

Here's the link to the public service announcement for the Fort Myer event.

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94q_T3CIlC8"

Or you can search YouTube for "centennial of military aviation".

womenfly2 · 3 September 2008, 06:32 AM

Awsome! Lets hope it does not wind up in the trees again. LOL!

WF2

NewBill · 3 September 2008, 06:22 PM

Ouch! Tough crowd!

We just had a great day, doing an all up engine run for the first time. Greg had run the engine on a test stand a bit, but tonight we ran it mounted on the airplane with the chains and props hooked up. Those props blow a lot of air, even at low speed! And the sound is very cool, too. The unmuffled engine and the chain drives make a heck of a clatter. The props are turning so slowly that you only hear the throbbing whisper if you stand close.

Only when we got it back in the hangar did I realize that today is September 3, and it was 100 years ago this evening when Orville put the first test flight on the original machine.