Wright Bros replica flies in Australia

There’s a photo, in one of me book’s, of a Wright flyer repo, flying job too, next to the 707 prototype, and both the pilot’s seem to be talking shop!!!

MAGIC STUFF DAVE,

Been busy and sick, and missed it!!!

Thank’s mate!!!

This new Aussie replica is also made from modern materials rather than the original. It has racing yacht sail cloth as its fabric, and instaed of piano wire for the bracing it has modern high tensile material, plus lots more they mentioned on the news article was different. So it should be able to handle more than a gentle breeze too, but still look right… or is that look wright?

Is anyone going to Narromine today to se it?

Thanks chaps.

One’s admaration for the Wrights goes up even more when you realise how hard the Flyer was to fly! Watching a long line of pilots of all types swagger up to the Wright Bros Flyer sim at Oshkosh, only to exit with crushed egos was worth the admission price alone!

“Hey, I’m a jetpilot!”

“Yeah. But canyou fly the Wright Flyer?”

Wright B Flyer at rest

. . . and on the ground, in focus this time!

Wright B Flyer

At Dayton in 2003.

How many replica Wright aircraft of any of the flyers have ever been flown more than a handful of times?

The ‘Finningly Flyer’ from Yorkshire flew, but how often. There was the famous replica on Dec17th 2003 🙁 whizz-plop.

Any others?

The replica of the Wright B flies regularly in Dayton. Of course it has different engine and airframe materials. I used to watch it over Wright-Patterson…it made a weird sound. There was an article about this in FlyPast within the last 2 years.

The group that built/flies it cheerfully admits it’s not 100% authentic, but their intention is to fly it to honor the Wrights… not just take it up on windless days 2-3 times a year. And seeing it fly at at altitude of 2-3000 AGL you can’t really notice the changes…and it is an impressive sight. I’d rather have an non-exact replica flying than none at all.

How many replica Wright aircraft of any of the flyers have ever been flown more than a handful of times?

Precious few. But that shouldn’t be used as a reason for people to stop trying shirley?

Moggy

How many replica Wright aircraft of any of the flyers have ever been flown more than a handful of times?

The ‘Finningly Flyer’ from Yorkshire flew, but how often. There was the famous replica on Dec17th 2003 🙁 whizz-plop.

Any others?

I don’t think people knew how to look after all ali engines in those days. The Stag V8 is another that springs to mind.

Not so much ‘looking after’ in the Triumph’s case.

The main problems were cooling system related.

I think the replica Flyer is a great idea though. It would definitely be one to seek out on the next visit to Oz.

Moggy

This page is about Coventry-Climax engines.

http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ensegb/covmax2.htm

It includes a brief mention of the development of the fire-pump engines and the final automotive use in the Imp. More can be found on sites devoted to the Imp.

I don’t think the Hillman Imp engine was based on a Coventry Climax water pump and certainly not their racing engines. The Imp engine was largely cast aluminium and therefore quite a light unit – no doubt one of the reasons it was chosen for this project.

Roger Smith.

I don’t think people knew how to look after all ali engines in those days. The Stag V8 is another that springs to mind.

mm it was just from memory they didnt seem to work too well in the Hillman Imp application, although they were fine in Lotus’s… 😀
Neil

The engines were developed from a Coventry-Climax design.

“EEK” isn’t really apt Neil. Coventry-Climax engines of that era were very advanced, as can be seen from their success in F1 in the early sixties. Their chief designer was ex-Jaguar and returned to design the Jag V12 when Jaguar took over C-C.

don’t let Helen C. see it> She’ll buy it to replace the Aztec NZ Air FOrce One…

Sounds quite the international job. Weren’t Hillman Imps build in Scotland?

weren’t the engines based on a Coventry Climax water-pump.?? 😮
Neil

Dave
Please note I didn’t take the chance to spread the rumor that the plane will be going to New Zealand…as their long awaited Skyhawk replacement. 😀

How dare you John! That plan was Top Secret 😀

Col only took it a few feet off the ground and flew for just part of the runway and put her down again. But they plan a two hour full flight with wing warping, etc next. Probably this avo I expect as it’s flying on Suday at the show.

Dave
Please note I didn’t take the chance to spread the rumor that the plane will be going to New Zealand…as their long awaited Skyhawk replacement. 😀

Col only took it a few feet off the ground and flew for just part of the runway and put her down again. But they plan a two hour full flight with wing warping, etc next. Probably this avo I expect as it’s flying on Suday at the show.