Why is this odd-looking contraption such a big deal? This is the Wright Flyer. It represents humankind’s first successful powered airplane. We’re standing in front of an authentic reproduction at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
The Wright Flyer acquisition was quite the surprise. Bruce R. McCaw announced it during a museum seminar. The Discovery of Flight Foundation helped make the purchase possible. Their mission is to keep the Wright brothers’ legacy alive.
This Wright Flyer is special. It is one of only three authentic reproductions. Ken Hyde and his team built it. They spent years replicating all the Wright brothers’ aircraft and experiments. Another sister ship actually flew in 2003. It commemorated the Centennial of Flight celebration. The Wright Experience used period materials and techniques. Experts agree these reproductions are incredibly faithful. They match the original Wright Flyer as it was on December 17, 1903.
Ken Hyde once said something interesting. He said that with this Wright Flyer in Seattle, the Wright Experience completed its goal. That goal was creating three Flyers that Orville and Wilbur Wright would recognize and be able to fly.
The Discovery of Flight Foundation sponsored wind tunnel and flight tests. The tests confirmed the reproductions’ authenticity. They also revealed new insights. They showed how scientifically advanced the Wright brothers were. Documentation of this research came with the Wright Flyer to Seattle. The other Wright Experience Flyers are in other museums. You can find them at the Henry Ford Museum and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
Ralph A. Bufano, the museum president, was thrilled to get this Wright Flyer. He noted the museum now represents the complete arc of flight. It spans from the Wrights’ early experiments to the Concorde and DarkStar.
McCaw noted the museum’s Wright holdings support public exhibits. They also support scholarly research. No other institution can match this collection of Wright treasures.
The museum also has glass-plate negatives. These document Wilbur Wright’s 1908 flights in France. These flights were the first demonstrations of the Wright Flyer’s capabilities. They happened before a skeptical European audience. The success of these flights secured the Wright brothers’ worldwide fame.
In 2002, the museum acquired the Wright Co. Papers. These are corporate records and legal documents. They trace the brothers’ struggle to build an industry. These papers were thought lost before the museum acquired them.
There is also a reproduction of the 1902 Wright Glider in the lobby. The Wright brothers made over 1,000 successful flights in it. Historians consider it the first fully controllable aircraft. The Wrights perfected the three-axis control system. This system underpinned the success of the 1903 Wright Flyer. It also underpins every airplane since.
Janette Yoerg, the Wright brothers’ great grandniece, spoke for the family. She said they were proud to have the Wright Flyer represent her uncles’ achievements. She wanted the Wright brothers’ story shared across the country. The Wright Flyer arrived in Seattle in late April. It is a testament to our freedom to dream. The Museum of Flight hopes it will inspire visitors to dream of flight.