May 22, 2003
The Wright Stuff
Reservist hopes modern-day version of early aircraft will
promote interest in aviation careers
Capt. Anita Pavey
Citizen
Airman - The Official Magazine of the Air Force Reserve
From a non-motorized glider featuring wing frames built of bent ash wood and covered in French sateen fabric to a craft made of state-of-the-art, exotic materials and powered by Harley-Davidson, Orville and Wilbur Wright's vision of flight has reached new heights at Utah State University.
Dave Widauf, an associate professor at USU's College of Engineering, saw that vision become a modern reality after asking himself what the Wright brothers would have done if they had access to today's technology.
"We wanted to find a way to promote aerospace programs at USU, honor the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight, and inspire youth in aerospace and aviation," said Widauf, who, as an Air Force Reserve colonel, serves as the senior individual mobilization augmentee in the Engineering Directorate, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
He sat down with colleague Charles Larson, and together they came up with the idea to build a version of the Wright Flyer using composite materials.
"We knew we could keep the essence of the airplane but make it lighter and stronger," the colonel said.
After reviewing plans for the 1903 flyer — the one that flew at Kitty Hawk, N.C. — and determining it would not fly, they decided to build a modern version of the lesser-known 1905 Wright Flyer III.
"We didn't want to build something that wouldn't fly," Widauf said. "Even the Wright brothers said the 1903 Flyer was impossible to fly, so they came back and changed it."
The Wright brothers came to the conclusion about their aircraft the hard way. After making history by keeping their 1903 Flyer in the air for 12 seconds Dec. 17, the brothers went back to Ohio discouraged after a crash damaged the craft beyond repair. They went back to the drawing board, redesigned their aircraft and made history again with the 1905 model, which flew for 39 minutes, 24 seconds and covered a distance of almost 24 miles, longer than all their previous flights combined.
Widauf and his colleagues, working with USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory, decided to make the project a community affair by involving students and faculty from various areas in the College of Engineering along with a group of senior citizens who had worked on aircraft before and local high school students.
"We changed some things," Widauf said. "It's actually closer to the 1909 Military Flyer with two seats and the landing gear."
The project took 4,000 hours to design and 6,000 hours to build,
he said.
Even with the extra seat and gear, the USU Wright Flyer is lighter than the
1905 Flyer because of the composite materials used to build it. Composites,
which are very strong structurally and lightweight, are a blend of two or more
materials in which the individual elements are still distinguishable. Composites,
such as Kevlar and graphite, are commonly used in sports equipment, cars, and
aircraft like the B-2 and F-22.
Widauf and his students used fiberglass and Kevlar-coated foam to replace the wood and cloth used on the original Flyer. Another departure from the original plan is the addition of a Harley-Davidson twin-cam 88B engine replacing the original built by Charles Taylor for the brothers. One of the most difficult challenges of the project was to take all these modern materials and equipment and create an aircraft that still looks like the Wright brothers' 1905 Flyer.
Some aviation enthusiasts were upset by the group's plans to modernize the flyer. However, Widauf said they worked with attorneys for the Wright family, and the Wright Brothers Foundation eventually sanctioned the aircraft.
"We had a wonderful showing at the Air Power 2003 event May 9-10 at Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio)," Widauf said. "A gentleman walked up and introduced himself as Stephen Wright, the Wright brothers' great-grandnephew. He sat in the airplane and loved it. They (members of the family) invited us to Kitty Hawk in December (for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Wright brothers' first flight) and are very excited about the airplane. The unique thing is this is not an exact replica, and we never meant it to be."
The USU Wright Flyer made its debut flight at Utah's historic Wendover Airport March 12, staying airborne for 23 seconds and traveling 800 feet. Since then, it has been on a whirlwind tour throughout the West, impressing spectators at every turn. Perhaps more impressive than the technological achievement is the emotional response the aircraft elicits from people by bringing past and present together.
"We never imagined how it would affect those who have been a part of aviation during this past century," said Trina Paskett, a public relations specialist with Space Dynamics Laboratory. "I have watched the crowd become silent as a 90-year-old World War II pilot dressed in full uniform sat in the Flyer. I saw a disabled elderly man painfully get out of his wheelchair and with assistance climb into the pilot's seat where a transformation took place as he sat proudly reminiscing of times he used to fly."
Widauf echoes Paskett's sentiments.
"It's just amazing to watch them when they see it fly, especially the older generation World War II vets. It's very emotional to see them in tears," Widauf said. "They all applaud when it lands."
While he loves the reactions he gets from older people, many of whom are aviators themselves, the most rewarding aspect of the entire project is the effect the Flyer is having on the younger generation. Widauf said he has already accomplished his goal of inspiring young people to pursue a career in aviation or the aerospace industry.
"We wanted to light a fire under the future leaders in space," he said. "The purpose is to take this thing out to young people and get them excited, and it's been amazing to see that."
He especially enjoys seeing reactions from parents.
"Several parents have come up and said, 'All he does is talk about airplanes. Thanks for focusing our son.'"
At each venue where the aircraft is on display, Widauf emphasizes to students what they need to do now to prepare themselves for a career in aviation.
"If you want to get into this kind of thing, you need your math and science," he said. "You need to do well in school."
Widauf knows from first-hand experience how starting young can influence one's love for flying.
"I got my first flight in an airplane when I was 6 years old, and I never forgot it — it's my career," he said. "You never know which one of them might be our next super-scientist."
The project has been an incredible learning experience for the engineering and technology students involved.
"I've seen them grow a tremendous amount during the process," he said. "It's made a big difference in a lot of people's lives. I guess that's what makes me feel so good about it."
Widauf, a former C-141 and AC-130 pilot who will retire from the Air Force Reserve this month, said the project has also had a big impact on him.
"I've been living, eating and sleeping this for a while," he said. "This is really the culmination of my aviation career."
The USU Flyer — with Jake Garn, former U.S. senator from Utah and space shuttle astronaut, at the helm — flew over Huffman Prairie Flying Field in July. Huffman Prairie, located in Dayton, Ohio, is the site where the Wright brothers developed the first practical airplane and taught themselves how to fly. In 1910, they established the world's first permanent flying school there.
(Captain Pavey is assigned to the Headquarters AFRC Office of Public Affairs, Robins AFB, Ga.)
