Wright Brothers Huffman Prairie Centennial 2005

On Oct. 5, 1905, the Wright brothers completed six years of experimentation with a 39-minute flight by Wilbur on Huffman Prairie in Greene County, Ohio. It marked the beginning of practical flight. One century later, Mark Dusenberry recreated the flight with his Wright Flyer III replica.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Wright Brothers
• Huffman Prairie
• Wright Flyer
• Mark Dusenberry
• Tom Crouch
• aviation heritage
• aviation history

[warp13]

Excellent video, looks like you had good weather. What a great looking and flying machine. Do they do this every year?

[trgaffney]

We hope to have the 1905 Flyer on Huffman Prairie again on October 5, 2009.

[BearFlight]

@marcusacf2 The machine Dumont called the "14bis" was actually designed and built by the ACduF members, Gabriel Voisin and Robert Esnault-Peltrie. Unfortunately, the machine was based on the failed concept of "Inherit Stability" and it lacked a proper propeller, it had NO lift producing airfoils, and it lacked a 3-axis control system. Dumont's first successful "actual" flight occured on 13Feb,1909, but he had illegally installed the Wright's patented control system and landed in French court.

[BearFlight]

@marcusacf2 Ironically, had the Wright brothers not been so successful, Octave Chanute would of had no reason to have informed the ACduF membership and they, with prompting by the overt French nationalist, Ernst Archdeacon, co-founder-president of the ACduF, didn't really start attempting to fly until 1906. Dumont was the perfect patsy, he was already famous for his dirigibles and with is single power hop on 12Nov,'06 Archdeacon got what he wanted. Dumont's next flight was on 13Feb,'09.

[homebuiltindoorplane]

absolutely fantastic. to think that that field is still there with wright pat right next to it! Fantastic. Thanks!

[warp13]

When will you have a confirmed date? Is there a website that I can checkout to get the latest information regarding this? I would like to get out there this year. Thanks.

[ryoung1902]

It is foolish to argue with folks who know nothing about the origin of flight. Doubting the achievements and primacy of the Wrights is a demonstration of ignorance. The Wrights flew before 1906 several times without a catapult or ridge lift. Their flights were publicly observed and published. Do you suppose a Tomcat isn't flying just because it is shot off the deck of a carrier? Get a life.

[octave3]

Sorry marcus, you're out-gunned here.

Santos-Dumont was a great aviator and a great aviation pioneer - but he was not the first to build and fly a truly practical airplane. That honor is rightfully bestowed on Wilbur and Orville, and that first practical airplane was the 1905 Flyer. You can see the original at Carillon park In Dayton Ohio, USA.

[octave3]

Irish:

Note that the flying shots with the KC10 in the background are of the Wright Model B, not the 1905 Flyer. The Model B first flew in 1910, and I know of no record that Model B flight tests were conducted at Huffman Prairie. But, I agree with you that the shots are cool...

[louisiana1003]

WOW! Thanks, I really enjoyed this video. I would like to know more about the man who is flying the replica. Could you tell me if the one flying the replica is the same one who designed this one?

Thanks again for this video! Great job!

[warp13]

marcusacf2-Then why didn't anyone in Europe succeed with it(catapult) prior to 1903?

The whole purpose for the use of the catapult is above the mental capacity of many in the Dumont mindset. They don't understand it's benefits from the perspective of an early 20th century aviator. It was very practical and as the Wright's proved, it achieved the required result, reduced take off length, the precursor for the aircraft carrier systems we use today. It also prevented ground looping.