1907-1909 Wright Model A

he world's first production airplane, the Wrights produced variations of the Model A from 1907-1909. Wilbur flew the first one on 8 Aug 1908 in France and later in Italy and at Governor's Island in New York in Oct 1909. Orville flew A Models at Ft Myer in Sep 1908 (killing Lt. Selfridge in the crash of 17 Sep 1908), Germany in 1909, and Montgomery, AL in 1910.

Model A biplanes had 41-foot span; 6.5-foot chord; 6-foot separation; 510 sq-foot area; 1/20 camber; 70 sq-foot double horizontal front rudder; 23 sq-foot twin movable vertical rear rudders; 31-foot overall length; and weighed 800 pounds.

They had a 4-cylinder vertical engine and the peculiar single warp/rudder control between the two seats that left seat pilots operated with their right hand and right seat pilots operated with their left hand.

References:

McFarland, 1953, p 1193-1195, plates 151, 165.
McFarland, Marvin W. (ed) The papers of Wilbur and Orville Wright. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1953, p 1193-1195. Plate 151 shows Wilbur flying in France. Plate 165 shows crash that killed Selfridge.

[Submitted by Joe W. McDaniel]

A Wright Model A Military Flyer ready for takeoff at Fort Meyer in 1908.

A Model A taking off from Huffman Prairie in 1910.

A Model A flying over Fort Myers in 1908.

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