Our Russia Annex

WRIGHT BROTHERS Aeroplane Company

he little town of Russia (pronounced "Rooshee") is but a dot on a map of Ohio, but the folks who live there have hearts as big as can be found in any city on the planet. They also have a tradition of fine craftsmanship and top-notch engineering. Some of the best aluminum casting and metalworking in America is done in Russia. So it should come as no surprise that they also have an educational system and technology training that is second to none.

When Marcus Petitjean, the technology coordinator for Russia Schools, heard about our Centennial Flyer program, he asked if his kids could get involved in the actual construction of the Flyer -- not just the rib-building, but the nuts-and-bolts construction. We were delighted to accommodate him. Several members of the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company live near Russia; we know the reputation that it has for high caliber machine work; and we figured that the Russians were likely passing on their interests and talents to their children.

So we are now engaged with the Russia students much the same way the Wright brothers engaged machine tool and woodworking businesses in their own neighborhood. We are "farming out" parts and subassemblies to the kids. So far, they have produced the struts and the skid assemblies we need for the two 1903 Wright Flyers we are building. And they are working on the front skids, elevator supports, and braces at the front of the aircraft.

How are they doing? Well, see for yourself. Below is a revolving exhibit of the pieces and parts that our "Russia Annex" is turning out.

Click on a photo or drawing to enlarge it.

WBAC Director Nick Engler discusses materials, methods, and plans with the young people of Russia who are helping us to build the Centennial Flyer.

Wood delivery -- the Russians unload some rough-sawn lumber. This is special quarter-sawn ash that we have been air-drying for over a year.	Here's what the ash looks like after our "Russia Annex" gets done with it. This is the lower middle joint on the skids -- the kids helped make the hardware, too!	Here's another part of the same skid -- this shows a delicate "Bird's Mouth" joint in the back brace. Orv and Will couldn't have made it better.	And here are the finished skids -- one right, one left. And the kids have also made the wooden parts for another set of skids for our second Flyer -- the one we hope to fly in 2003.
			The young people in our Russia Annex work in groups -- the photos to the left show three of these groups. Each of the kids donates his or her time and stays after school to work on the airplane parts.

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