The Wright Brothers and Their Wright Flyer
You know they did all their early test flights in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina... and it's fun to make a "pilgrimage" to Kitty Hawk. We did... ...But Dayton, Ohio has to be on your "must see" list if you're interested in aviation history. There is, of course, the National Museum of the United States Air Force, but the Wright Brothers lived and worked here... and you can visit many of the significant areas.
You can find out about all these historic sites from most guide books.... But when we started this antique airplanes site, we said we were going to help you find 'em, see 'em, fly 'em....
So... You need to know about the dedicated folks at The Wright B Flyer organization. They are a non-profit corporation dedicated "to the preservation and re-enactment of the historic achievements of aviation." They have what they call a look-a-like aircraft (rather than a replica) of the Wright "B" Flyer (also known as the Wright-Brother's Model B Military Flyer.) They take it to air shows on occasion. In December of 2010, they announced a new Wright B Flyer lookalike. You can find them at a Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport just a few miles south of Dayton. The aircraft reside in a hangar there:
Miamisburg, Ohio 45432 Phone: (937) 885-2327 E-mail: wbflyer@dayton.net The museum (basically the hangar) is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. You can visit at other times by appointment. It is free of charge, but they willingly accept (and need) your donations. You can also become a member of their organization. 
They sometimes take adventurous passengers on a short flight... "A brief orientation flight is available for Wright "B" Flyer Honorary Aviator Members." A short flight... short as in just lift off, fly down the runway and land... no turns for passengers due to insurance purposes. You only get up to about 65 feet, but let me tell you, when you are sitting on that wing, it seems like you're much higher. (You're really in a seat, but it FEELS like you're sitting on the wing! Think flying in a lawn chair.) You should contact them to see when they might be flying it and make arrangements ahead if you want to try for the flight like we did. We can tell you that will be a thrill, and you'll get a certificate complete with a toothpick to get the bugs out of your teeth! Visit them in cyberspace... The Wright B Flyer Organization More sites to check about the Wright Brothers and Dayton, Ohio....
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park The Wright Brothers Airplane Company The Aviation Trail Inc. US Air Force Museum Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Dayton/Montgomery Country Convention & visitors Bureau And a little further afield...
Smithsonian - National Air & Space Museum Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village 
Whether it's the Wright Brothers, the early days of antique airplanes or the latest aircraft, Dayton and the surrounding area is a great place to see a broad range of them all.Find 'em, See 'em, Fly,'em! And have a great flight! Privacy and Legal Policy New! CommentsHave your say about this page on Antique Airplanes... what you just read or something you'd like to add! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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