Wright Flyer 
1903  
Reproduction 
Project
 
[Site Updated on 6/4/2010]

The Wright Flyer has a new home ...



The 1903 Wright Flyer ... Lysdale Historical Hangar
Circa  May 2009


Lysdale hangar.      Open seven days a week, there are many historic items on display. Among the items was a 1929 Hamilton H-47 airplane. The 4-year restoration was completed by Jack Lysdale. We also saw early Northwest Airlines memorabilia. A full size replica of the Wright Brother's "Wright Flyer" is also on display. That part of the hangar houses the Minnesota Museum of Aviation and the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame.

Jack Lysdale was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004.

For more information about Minnesota Aviation history, read a book by Noel Allard, Minnesota Aviation History  

PhotoBucket ... I took a series of photos of the elevator; plus, video of the elevator in motion in response to amodel builder's requested for help.  Also, another small model is captured hanging from the ceiling.

 

Welcome to the South St. Paul Fleming Field Airport 
Fleming field.JPG
Located at 1725 Henry Avenue, South St. Paul, MN Fleming Field is owned and managed by the City of South St. Paul, Minnesota. A ten minute drive from downtown St. Paul and fifteen minutes from the Mall of America in Bloomington, it is a friendly and easily accessible airport. It has a 4,001' paved runway (16/34) with pilot controlled lighting, PAPI for both runways and NDB, localizer and GPS instrument approaches. CTAF is 122.7.
If you are flying in ... more information


 


The Flyer under construction at Flying Cloud Airport
Circa March 2003

Here is a replica of the Wright Flyer
engine that is regularly run in
Germany
...
Hear and See it Run Now

The original was built by Charles Taylor in 6 weeks!

Animation and Full Video

Author and owner of video
 has asked for it's removal
Once authorization is given,
I will provide a link to his great books.


Some links to Running Engines

Bare Engine Replica - EAA, Oshkosh  
Bare Engine Replica - San Diego  
Mounted with Twin Props, Ft. Myer  

Cutway Models with motion
 
Model - Better view at Kitty Hawk  
Model - Better yet!!  

V12 Miniature Model Engine  
... by Ralf Drendel, Germany
OK, nothing to do with the 1903 Flyer,
     .... but I couldn't resist.
Director's Cut - Better View - No Ad


Thanks to

Udo Joerges
for building
this engine
... and
supplying this
excellent video.

Full Video

Short_Video



 

Wright Flyer 
Merchandise

Price paid is
Tax Deductible
501C3 #41-1869452
 
 
  http://www.allstarwarbirds.com/mspa_tshirts.html 

Contact: Sharon Sandberg ...   

 
 
Note: slow to load on first visit 
Animation Loading .... Please Wait
At rear of photo, note wing tip counter movement

Under the aegis of Flight Expo, a small and group of individuals were commissioned by the state of Minnesota to build a full-size reproduction of the 1903 Wright Flyer.  This website displays the construction photos.  Also, other interesting construction and historical information are provided.
 Upper Wing Resting on the Covered Center Section of the Lower Wing
Google 
Search mn1903flyer.us Search WWW 
 
 
The Wright Flyer ... during on of its many moves: 
[Note: the above link takes you to an index, use "arrow back" to return to this page.] 

The Wright Flyer was moved to the American Wings museum but now resides in its final home at Lysdale on Fleming Field.  The first public display was during D.A.D, Discover Aviation Day.  Other displays of the 1903 Wright Flying include the Mall of America.  Our 1903 Flyer shares space with many restored aircraft from the past. 

Note the white gloves in the photos.   The moves generally resulted in some damage.  About 14 people were required to lift the aircraft onto a special wheeled dolly.  After wheeling the craft to the truck, the same crew would lift and roll the aircraft onto the truck.  Due to the extremely long wing, a level, straight shot was required.

 
Construction Photos
Engine Parts 

     1903 engine photos from Germany

  Log: final assembly photos  
  Debatable Points  
  regarding construction details 
Links 

This website was created to celebrate the first flight 100 years ago.  Rubber powered model flights date back more than 100 years and inspired the Wright Brothers to tackle the challenge of powered flight.  Read the story at this link:

  A Century of Indoor Models 


Project Team and Contacts 

Editorial Policy 
Email Address Method

A fire at 4:00 A.M., 3/10/2003, caused considerable damage to two wing segments of the Wright Flyer.  Both the upper and lower right wing segments had most of the fabric covering burned off with some damage to ribs and spars.  One rib was burned through and a wing bow was burned through.  Also, a fireman tripped over the rear rudder structure breaking one of the lower struts.  The fire was doused by the firemen ripping the fabric off of the Flyer and tossing the burning fabric into the snow outside the hangar.  Very resourceful ... eliminating any water damage.

Repairs were completed quickly.  A few ribs were repaired or replace and Dale Johnson sewed two more wing envelopes out of the limited remaining supply of muslin fabric. 
 
 
 

[     ]
Address of this webpage: www.mn1903flyer.us
Copyright © 2002, Minnesota Wright Flyer Project, all rights reserved.
History of updates:
5/26/2006
730/2009
Visits:     Site