Why wouldn't the Wright Flyer fly one hundred years Later?

Question

Has technology improved so little that modern man cannot duplicate what the Wright Brothers did? in 1903, 100 years latter? Why did the Wright Flyer not get off the ground in 2003? If this flight is discounted what would have been the 1st. real powered flight in the world? All suggestions welcome.

Answer 1

Maybe the Wright Bros were a pair of liars, ya ever think of that???

Answer 2

First, the technology was the same (it was a reproduction aircraft after all).  So the modern plane had the same limitations as the original.  Mostly, it was very unstable in pitch and could stall easily.

Second, the aircraft is so light and underpowered that it can only be flown in certain weather conditions.  If it is too calm, the aircraft will not generate enough lift on its own; if it is too windy, the aircraft will be blown around like a shopping bag.  The rain contaminates the airfoil and adds weight.

It is pretty much undisputed these days that the Wright Brothers made the first powered, controlled flight in a heavier than air aircraft.  Even the Smithsonian, one of the Wright's biggest opponents, finally gave in to the truth.

Answer 3

Several groups have re-created the Wright Flyer and successfully flown those replicas. So it has been duplicated, just not exactly. As others have stated, the flight at Kitty Hawk didn't take place on the anniversary because of weather, but it was undertaken later, along with many others around the country. The problem with exact duplication is with the design of the aircraft. The Wrights didn't blueprint their plane. It was a constant work in progress that changed often. Blueprinting and standardized design in aircraft came a lot later with mass production. This means that an exact design was never recorded. The replicas are very authentic, but they're based on photos and simple drawings, so they aren't exact copies of the original flyer. The original is gone, lost to history. So, essentially, the flight has been re-created many times but isn't exactly authentic from a purist's standpoint.

You can find more detailed information on the replicas and commemorative flights at:

http://www.wrightflyer.org/

and

http://www.wrightexperience.com/

Also a great source of information on aviation history is the book:

"Air Power, The Men, Machines, and Ideas that Revolutionized War, from Kitty Hawk to Gulf WarII"

By Stephen Budiansky

This book contains an exhaustive, well documented history of the Wright's developments and their interactions with colleagues.

Answer 4

The re-enactors had planned for years to launch the airplane at 10:35 a.m. ET, 100 years to the minute from when the Wrights first ascended into the skies under motor power. That plan was scrapped not only because of the drenching, scattered rains, but also because winds on the normally breezy Outer Banks dipped below the minimum 10 mph needed.  The plane had made 3 successful flight a few weeks in advance of the anniversary.

j

Answer 5

The 1903 aircraft was lighter because it was dry.

It had more than zero knot airspeed even before it began its takeoff run.

The wind gradient increased the wings' lift.  

Technology has changed so much that almost no experienced pilots today could fly the Wright Flyer.