For more information contact:
Dick Knapinski, Media and Public Relations
(920) 426-6523
dknapinski@eaa.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ONE-OF-A-KIND 1909 WRIGHT MODEL B FLYER REPLICA TO FLY AT EAA AIRVENTURE
2009
Wright brothers' first production aircraft helped start air racing era
100 years ago
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (Feb. 9, 2009) - A replica
of the Wright brothers' first production airplane, the Wright "B" Flyer,
will make its North American public flying debut during the 2009 EAA
AirVenture fly-in at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The 57th
annual edition of EAA AirVenture, "The World's Greatest Aviation
Celebration," will be held July 27-August 2 at Wittman Regional Airport
in Oshkosh.
The "Silver Bird" replica was built by Dayton, Ohio-based Wright
"B" Flyer Inc., which already owns two other look-alikes of the Wright
brothers' first production airplane. The group constructed the airplane
to be a flying aircraft that would detail Dayton's aviation heritage as
the hometown of the Wrights.
"To see an early model Wright Flyer take to the sky above
Oshkosh this summer is a very exciting and historic opportunity for
AirVenture participants," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and
AirVenture chairman. "The volunteer effort involved in creating the
airplane is also something that speaks well to EAA members and their own
spirit of flight. We are very much looking forward to this aircraft
joining us at EAA AirVenture, where you can see something you have not
seen before."
The aircraft is scheduled to begin flight testing early this
year and perhaps take part in aviation festivities this summer in Europe
before coming to Oshkosh. A possible event in Reims, France, would
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gordon Bennett Cup, often
regarded as the first major air race in history.
The Wright "B" Flyer group launched the Silver Bird project in
2007 with the intent of creating a replica aircraft that could be
shipped internationally for exhibition flights. The design used steel
frames, wooden wing ribs and fabric covering. Modern technology allowed
such advancements as engineering software and laser cutting and
machining tools. The finished airplane is stressed for 3.8 positive Gs
while maintaining the original appearance of the Wrights' design.
The aircraft was dubbed the "Silver Bird" because of its
silver-painted frame and white fabric, and it made its static display
debut last October at the annual National Business Aircraft Association
convention in Orlando, Fla. More information is available at
www.wright-b-flyer.org.
"It will truly be a global ambassador for Dayton," said Amanda
Wright Lane, the Wright brothers' grandniece and a trustee of Wright "B"
Flyer Inc. "There is not a single artifact you can hold, or place you
can visit, or document you can read that equals seeing a Wright Flyer in
the air."
The Wright B Flyer appearance will be one of the highlights of
EAA's activities commemorating 100 years of air racing during EAA
AirVenture 2009. Additional details of the Wright B Flyer's activities
and other racing aircraft will be announced as they are finalized.
EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH is The World's Greatest Aviation
Celebration and EAA's yearly membership convention. Additional EAA
AirVenture information, including advance ticket purchase, is available
online at www.airventure.org. EAA members receive lowest prices on
admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call
1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Images of the Wright B Flyer under construction last
fall are available at
http://www.airventure.org/news/2009/090209_wrightb_photos.html
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