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February 20, 2003
Utah State University Wright Flyer Featured on the Learning Channel

Writer: Heather Butikofer
hmbutikofer@cc.usu.edu

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State University is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of powered flight by honoring the Wright brothers in a unique way that has caught the attention of The Learning Channel.

Utah State's Wright Flyer Project will be featured on The Learning Channel Feb. 23 and 26 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 24 and 27 at 11 p.m. MST. Utah State students and faculty have built a full-scale replica of the original Wright brothers' airplane.

Students and faculty members from the mechanical and aerospace engineering department made up the design team. Students from the industrial technology department comprised the build team. The students, along with their faculty mentors, have dedicated more than 10,000 hours of effort the designing and building the plane.

The group teamed with the Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University Research Foundation and the U.S. Air Force to build the USU Wright Flyer. The Utah State students were given the challenge to design and build the flyer using space-age materials, the way the Wright brothers might have done if they were designing the plane today.

The USU Wright Flyer project has received all funding from private donations and the Utah State University Research Foundation. Funding is currently being raised to support an outreach tour of Utah scheduled for May. Many community members and Utah State students and staff have volunteered their time and knowledge to the project.

The Learning Channel in Cache Valley is listed as channel 30. For areas outside of Cache Valley, please check local listings.

For more information, contact Trina Paskett by phone at 435-797-4678 or by email at trina.paskett@sdl.usu.edu.