How I built and flew a Wright Brothers aeroplane

A childhood dream becomes a reality when I build and fly my my own "aeroplane".
This is now an ongoing project, as I plan to re-create Robert Fowler's 1911 trans- continental flight in 2011.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• flying
• wright
• brothers
• adventure
• airplanes
• homebuilt
• howto
• diy

[videomonkey2009]

Very good Im so jealous. Engine in video looks large abd heavy. I think I would have maybe used a motorcycle engine but what do I knwo. How long did whole project take to build?

[tomivicevich]

Originally, it took one year to build. But, it's been a work in progress since 2003.

The vw engine looks a lot like the original engine, and besides, I can use bio-diesel for fuel. It smells like a "happy meal".

[loocky44]

Nice job, congratulations!

I have two questions:

how much power had your replica?

How much it weights?

[tomivicevich]

Thanks for your questions.

I have a vw diesel that delivers about 52 hp. I don't run it full bore so I get about 45 hp. The original got about 32 hp.

My aeroplane weighs about 920 lbs.

[VteBarack08]

Yo that's sick, I wanna build and fly one like the Wright Brothers' plane! Are you an aeronautical engineer or something???

[tomivicevich]

I've always built things and have always been fascinated by flight and studied aeronautical engineering enough to build the aeroplane. Passion for the project allowed me to complete it.

[MrMental135]

I almost cryed when the glider crashed but i pulled my self together.

[MrJdsenior]

You are nuts, and that is so cool. Good luck, be careful, and thanks for posting the vid.....enjoyed it ;-)



[ADMIRAL4488]

Cool :D My dream is this too, from my childhood

[cheerfu11]

cong for ur hard work

iwant to make 1

[magna59]

Congratulations......i'm not sure what i'm more inspired by your enthusiasm or your madness......or your feline quality......the requirment for nine lives ! Keep at it ! But have a care.

[AirplaneFreak1000]

a few sticks some cloth and string

poof u have a plane made for falling to the ground quickly

[Gig540]

@jkl12397 your exactly right about the pivot point on the elevator. I had similar problems on some scratch built RC planes I made before. Now I always mount the pivot point a bit ahead of the halfway point.

By the way This was a great video would like to see some more!

[kmarccoco]

Thats awesome Tom!!!!!!

[jkl12397]

I have got a few questions and comments. did u put the pivot point of the elevator in the middle of the elevator, or slightly forward? I know the wright brothers had trouble with that because of winds hitting the elevator, making it almost uncontrollable.I have a suggestion that would theoretically make it more controllabe and may give you better lift, the wright brothers also realized this problem of uncontrollability, as they said in their journal.

[glenmann62]

That was so cool ! My dream is also to build one but in an ultralight configuration, a 1/2 scale of the original which so far i have not seen ! , My hats off to you for fulfilling and getting your dream off the ground ,hopefully one day my dream will be a reality just as your was too you! Thank you for showing your build, glenn