Main Site : News

August 16, 2001
USU to build "Kitty Hawk" flyer

By RALPH WAKLEY
Standard-Examiner Capitol Bureau

LOGAN - To help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers" first powered flight, Utah State University and its Space Dynamics Laboratory plan to build a modern version of the Wright Flyer.

However, rather than the spruce and muslin used in the aircraft that made the historic Dec. 17, 1903, flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., the USU team will use the latest Kevlar, graphite composite and other state-of-the-art materials.

"Think of it. It will be the same size as the Wright Flyer, but it will weigh half as much," said Frank Redd of the Space Dynamics Laboratory.

"It"ll be an exciting thing to do because our students are going to learn a lot," Redd said. Because of the differences in materials, he said, "there will be a significant engineering component to it," compensating for the different weight and how the controls work, for example.

Announcement of the two-year project was made during
USU"s 15th annual Conference on Small Satellites this week. Nearly 500 delegates from aerospace companies, universities and government agencies were attending this year"s conference, which ends today.