Engineering

1903 WRIGHT FLYER STATISTICS

This full scale replica with its wing span of 40 feet 4 inches is probably the most exact replica ever built, as it was built not just for display or even to fly, but to be the source of precise aerodynamic data. Many unique encounters along the way have assisted us in achieving this.

Exterior Dimensions:

Wing Span	40 ft. 4 in.
Overall Length	21 ft. 1 in.
Wing Chord	6 ft. 6 in.
Height over Wings	8 ft. 1 in.
Height over sweep of props	9 ft. 4 in.
Wing Incidence	3 degrees 25 minutes

Surface Areas:

Wing Area	518 sq. ft.
Canard Area	48 sq. ft.
Rudder Area	20 sq. ft.

Weights:

Weight Without Pilot	605 lbs.
Loaded Weight	750 lbs. approx.
Engine Weight w/Fuel	200 lbs. approx.
Powerplant	12 BHP 4-cylinder water-cooled engine lying on its side and driving 2 – 8 ft. 6 in. diameter propellers by chains, one of which was crossed to achieve counter-rotation.

Loadings:

Wing Loading	1.47 lb./sq. ft.
Engine Loading	62.5 lb./hp.

Flight Characteristics:

Speed	30 mph approx.
Launching Method	The Flyer took off under its own power from a dolly which ran on two bicycle hubs along a 60 ft. wooden rail.

First airplanes to Fly:

USA	Dec. 1903	Austria	April 1908
France	Nov. 1906	Russia	July 1908
Italy	1907	Sweden	July 1908
Germany	June 1907	Romania	Oct. 1908
Gr. Britain	Oct. 1908	Canada	Feb. 1909