Three-Views

If you want to make a small model without a great deal of detail, then a simple "three-view" is sufficient. "Three-view" is engineering slang for a drawing that combines the top, front, and side elevations of an object -- in this case, an airplane.  We have gathered up the three-views for 9 different Wright airplanes, including the Flyer 1, then scanned them at a sufficient resolution to make large, crisp, detailed prints. You can download these from our Three-Views page.

Scale Model Plans 

If what you have in mind is a very detailed model of the Flyer, we recommend a book  "Paul Matt Scale Airplane Drawings, Volume 2," published by Aviation Heritage, Inc. Near the back of the book, there is an excellent set of drawings -- top view, side view, front view and some important details. If you have slightly larger ambitions, or your eyesight isn't what it used to be, you can order a large version of these drawings on two 18" x 24" sheets. You can use their online catalog at: http://www.aviation-heritage.com/
cgi-bin/catalog.cgi.

Be patient; the catalog seems to take forever to load. But when it finally does, scroll down toward the bottom of the page and click on  "Paul Matt Scale Drawings V-W."  This will take you to a list of plans; the Wright Flyer is second from the bottom. The order number is 0-123A.

Paul Matt's drawings -- not large enough to use, but large enough that you can get an idea of their superb detail.

Plans for full-size replicas

If you're planning to reproduce the 1903 Wright Flyer 1, or want detailed information on the construction of the aircraft and engine for your own enjoyment and edification, you can obtain a complete set -- 50 sheets of drawings -- from the National Air and Space Museum.

To do this, first download their "Wright 1903 Flyer Drawings" order form from the following web page: http://www.nasm.edu/nasm/arch/wrights.html.

Please note that you can not order these drawings online. You must download the order form (or request it via e-mail), print it out, sign the "Document Use and Indemnification Agreement" attached to form, and send it in with a check or money order. The NASM needs you to sign the form to indemnify themselves should you crash and burn in your replica.

 If that's your plan, by the way -- build a flying replica -- you would be wise to read closely the second paragraph on the order form. "The Wrights made no drawings of this aircraft..." it warns, and goes on to say that it was heavily damaged in 1903, went through a flood in 1913, was rebuilt once in 1916 and again in 1925, at a time when aircraft conservation standards were non-existent. As a result, "there will always be some doubt about the configuration of the aircraft during the 1903 flights."

You should also be aware that there have been several aerodynamic studies on the Flyer in its restored configuration that have shown it's a real bear to handle. It's worst problem seems to be pitch instability -- it "porpoises" in flight, and you need the reactions of a trained athlete to control it. Fredrick J. Hooven, one of the engineers who studied the Flyer, wrote that the pilot needed to react in 6/100ths of a second -- any slower and he would lose control. That, said Hooven, "is in the same range as a professional baseball player needs to hit a fast ball."

Most recently, members of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) performed exhaustive wind tunnel tests on a full-scull replica at NASA Ames in California. Their conclusion was much the same as engineers that had gone before them -- the Flyer was an exceedingly difficult and dangerous machine to fly in it's present configuration.  They now hope to use the data they gleaned from the wind tunnel tests and other studies to adjust the configuration and make a Flyer look-alike that's reasonably safe to fly. You can read about this project at: http://www.wrightflyer.org/

The Smithsonian also distributes this high resolution scan of the first page of the Flyer  bueprints, free to all comers. We downloaded it and posted the drawing here in case you'd like a copy.

And then there's us

That's right. The Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company is a major source of engineering drawings for Wright aircraft and other Wright artifacts. Fact is, we offer a few plans that you just can't get anywhere else. Some of these, such as the 1899 Wright Kite and the 1902 Wright Glider, we have posted here for the benefit of young people and to do our part to celebrate the Centennial of Flight in 2003. For a complete listing, see our page of WBAC Plans.