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Wright Model A
| Wright Model A | |
|---|---|
| The restored Wright Military Flyer at the National Museum of the United States Air Force | |
| Type | Demonstrator |
| Manufacturer | Wright Company |
| Maiden flight | 1907 |
| Number built | ca.40 |
The Wright Model A was an early aircraft produced by the Wright Brothers in the United States in 1908. Strongly resembling their original Flyer, the Model A was the first aircraft that they offered for sale, and the first aircraft design to enter serial production anywhere in the world. Apart from the seven machines the Wrights built themselves, they sold licences for production in Europe, with the largest number of Model As actually being produced in Germany by Flugmaschine Wright, which built at least 22 examples[citation needed].
The 1909 Military Flyer was a Model A rebuilt by the Wright Brothers after it crashed on September 17, 1908 killing Lt. Selfridge[1]. Shortened two feet and with a more powerful engine fitted, the aircraft was demonstrated successfully at Fort Myer, Virginia June 28, 1909[1] for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, which offered a contract of $25,000 for an aircraft capable of flying at 40 mph (64 km/h) with two people on board for a distance of 125 miles (200 km). After rigid trials the Signal Corps accepted the airplane, August 2, 1909[1], paying the brothers $30,000[2]. Restored as near to the original as possible, a Model A plane is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC[3].
Specifications (Wright Military Flyer)
Data from "US Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 30 ft 8 in (112 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 5 in (133 m)
- Height: ()
- Empty weight: 740 lb (336 kg)
- Loaded weight: 1,263 lb (573 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Wright Model 4 , 30 hp (22 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 42 mph (67.6 km/h)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
- ↑ "On Great White Wings" by Fred E. C. Gulic and Spencer Dunmore (Airlife Publishing Ltd. Shrewsbury, England, 2001, ISBN 1840373334), 176pp.
- ↑ "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough, 1964, 596 pp.
External links
See also
Designation sequence
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| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wright Model A". |
